Tottenham are set for an overhaul of their strikers in the summer, according to Wednesday’s papers – and that is bad news for Jermain Defoe.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the club are looking at three strikers: free agent Arouna Kone, Marseille’s Loic Remy and Emmanuel Adebayor, who spent last season at the club on loan from Manchester City.
Defoe came out on Tuesday to say he wants regular first-team football, but he will probably have to find that elsewhere if Tottenham make hay with their plans.
The paper says: “Harry Redknapp wants to invigorate his attack next season and has identified Remy, the Marseille forward, as his main target. It is understood that talks have been held between Redknapp and Remy but that Marseille’s asking price could be a problem.
“Having spent £13 million on signing Remy from Nice in 2009, Marseille are determined to sell at a profit and are pushing for a fee of around £18m. Tottenham, it is understood, are looking at a figure much closer to £15m.”
Tottenham’s failure to qualify for the Champions League should not be a problem as the Telegraph says Remy “remains keen on a move to the Premier League” despite that setback.
Financial concerns are also the biggest stumbling block in getting Adebayor to the club on a permanent deal: “(Spurs) are willing to offer Adebayor around £100,000 a week and also a £4m signing-on fee to help mitigate his potential wage cut from the £170,000 a week he is being paid at Manchester City. They will not, however, also be prepared to pay a huge transfer fee to City,” says the Telegraph. Ivory Coast striker Kone would be the cheapest option. He is on a free transfer after spending last season on loan at Levante from Sevilla: he scored 15 Liga goals in 27 games as Levante surprised everyone by finishing sixth, at one point competing for the Champions League places. Levante are keen to sign the 28-year-old on a permanent deal.
The Telegraph also reports that Croatia internationals Vedran Corluka and Niko Kranjcar will leave Spurs. The pair is attracting interest from Dynamo Kiev.
Staying with Spurs, there is good news for the White Hart Lane faithful in The Sun: it says that Gareth Bale has told Tottenham he will not be pushing for a move away from the club.
A Spurs insider said: “Gareth wants to stay for next season. To say he is happy at the club right now is a bit of an understatement.”
The latest name being linked with Liverpool is former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal – although not in conjunction with the manager’s job.
According to The Guardian he is instead “in line for a senior managerial role at Liverpool”.
The paper expands: “The Dutchman was linked with a move to Anfield in the wake of Damien Comolli’s dismissal as director of football in April. However, while it has since been decided to change the management structure at Liverpool, Van Gaal has remained under consideration for a revised role and is the leading contender to become the club’s first sporting director.”
There seem to be no major new developments for the big job, although Andre Villas-Boas has been cut by the bookmakers and is once again the favourite ahead of the other leading contender Roberto Martinez.
A quick round-up of other transfer gossip: Manchester United have opened talks with Everton to sign England left-back Leighton Baines in a massive deal. United supremo David Gill has contacted Goodison chief Bill Kenwright to open the bidding and the Old Trafford club are prepared to pay £12m for the classy defender. (Daily Mirror)
Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson, Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou could all face the axe at Arsenal to make room for Junior Hoilett, Salomon Kalou, Yann M’Vila and Steven N’Zonzi. (Daily Mirror)
However, the Times says that Arsenal have switched their attention to Toulouse captain Etienne Capoue, 23, as a cheaper alternative to Rennes’ 21-year-old midfielder M’Vila. (The Times)
Pablo Zabaleta is ready to snub Barcelona – and earn himself an extra £10,000 a week with Manchester City. (The Sun)
Edin Dzeko has told his agent to find him a new club after deciding he wants to quit City. (Daily Star)
Wolves winger Matt Jarvis is a £5m target for Italian club Udinese. They are the surprise suitors for the 25-year-old after Udine scouted him last season and were impressed despite Wolves’ relegation. (Daily Mirror)
Michu, the highest-scoring midfielder in Spain last season with 17 goals, could move to the Premier League for as little as £3m this summer due to Rayo Vallecano’s financial problems. Manchester United scouts have been watching Michu, 26, and London-based agents DBW have also spoken with several other English clubs, including Liverpool, about him. (Daily Mail)
QPR boss Mark Hughes wants to be reunited with Nigel de Jong this summer. Hughes signed the Dutch midfield hardman for Man City in January 2009 for £18m from Hamburg. (Daily Mirror)
Everton boss David Moyes has made an enquiry about Sunderland’s Kieran Richardson. The 27-year-old, who has 12 months left on his present contract, is expected to leave the club this summer after intimating to Martin O’Neill that he would not be extending his deal. (Daily Mail)
Former England keeper Paul Robinson is expected to head the list of players leaving relegated Blackburn this summer. QPR and West Ham target Robinson is the club’s highest earner on £40,000 a week. (Daily Mail)
Finally, Man City boss Roberto Mancini has been warned off a double swoop for AC Milan pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. (Daily Express)
