Ramos hopes £4m Robinson sale to Blackburn will fast-track Spurs' bid for midfielder Bentley

Rovers and Spurs are haggling over a fee for the England midfielder but, if the two clubs can come to agreement over Robinson, it will raise hopes at White Hart Lane of a swift conclusion to the Bentley negotiations.

Even though the former Arsenal star is keen to join Spurs, the club are yet to meet Blackburn’s £18m valuation for Bentley, having so far only tabled a bid in the region of £11m.

David Bentley

Goodwill over Robinson’s move may, however, go some way towards breaking the deadlock and matters could be assisted further by the fact that the England No1 and Bentley share the same agent, Robert Segal.

Aston Villa were the front runners in the race to end Robinson’s four-year spell at White Hart Lane, but manager Martin O’Neill had a change of heart and opted to sign Brad Friedel from Blackburn for half the price.

The American’s £2m switch from Ewood Park, subject to final terms being agreed, created the vacancy in the Ewood Park goal for Robinson to fill.

The former Leeds goalkeeper has been keen to leave Spurs since having a bust-up with head coach Ramos in January and was also linked with Middesbrough.

Ramos has already signed Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven as his replacement this summer and the 28-year-old has been training at the club’s training ground in Chigwell while the first team squad are in Spain at a pre-season camp.

Along with Robinson, Ramos’ is clearing out much of predecessor Martin Jol’s squad with defender Pascal Chimbonda today set to follow Teemu Tainio to Sunderland.

Tainio’s switch to the Stadium of Light was completed last night, but Chimbonda is also ready to move having passed a medical yesterday.

The right back, who joined Spurs from Wigan in a deal worth up to £5.25m in 2006, has agreed terms on a four-year contract.

Tottenham have been keen to get rid of the French international since he demanded an increase of three times his £30,000-a-week salary after Chelsea registered their interest last year.

He also lost the support of the fans when he stormed down the Wembley  tunnel after being substituted in the Carling Cup Final against Chelsea in February.

Sunderland bid a total of £12m for Tainio, Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque, while in the last few days have stepped up their interest in Younes Kaboul.

The deals for Malbranque and Kaboul are still in the balance, as neither players is convinced of the merits of a move to Roy Keane’s side.

Spurs continue their preparations for the new campaign tonight with a  friendly against Hercules.

Strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, who have been targeted by Manchester
United and Liverpool respectively, are both expected to feature.