Spurs land Woodgate as fears grow over King

Woodgate was met by manager Juande Ramos and his assistant Gus Poyet at the club's Chigwell training ground as Spurs began planning for a long-term future without their captain.

King's damaged knee has deteriorated to such an extent that Ramos has been advised he can only realistically play around one game in every three for the rest of his career.

Although King was majestic in the 5-1 Carling Cup semi-final rout of Arsenal last week and had hoped for an England recall for next week's game against Switzerland, Woodgate is likely to form the bedrock of Tottenham's defence in the long term.

King's knee is so sore that he is expected to miss tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash at Everton even though he sat out Sunday's FA Cup exit at Manchester United.

His problems prompted Ramos to move for Woodgate and Middlesbrough agreed a fee with Newcastle and Spurs last week.

There was added intrigue yesterday when it emerged that a third club, initially thought to be Arsenal, had made an inquiry for the defender, capped six times by England.

There followed denials from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Spurs were trumpeting their capture after Woodgate completed the formalities of a three-and-a-half year deal.

Although Tottenham will be the fifth club of his injury-prone career, Spurs have agreed to pay Woodgate a £250,000 loyalty bonus for each successful year he spends at the club.

Middlesbrough, who need Woodgate off their wage bill to finance a £12m move for Heerenveen striker Afonso Alves, also paid up a proportion of the player's contract to encourage his move.

Woodgate, 28, is recognised as one of the finest centre halves in the country, but he has struggled with injury at each of his four previous clubs — Leeds, Newcastle, Real Madrid and Middlesbrough.

He has made fewer than 200 League appearances in his chequered career and won the last of his caps during England's 1-0 defeat against Spain at Old Trafford last February.

His arrival at White Hart Lane is intended to increase competition for places at a club who have conceded 40 League goals in 23 games this season.

Ramos still has concerns about Michael Dawson, sent off in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford, while the coaching staff agree that French youngster Younes Kaboul is not up to scratch.

Kaboul was spoken of as 'the best young central defender in Europe' when he arrived from Auxerre last summer for £8m, but has failed to convince Ramos.

Although Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had claimed that the Carling Cup Finalists would not be active during the January transfer window, they have attempted to conclude a number of big money signings.

Despite making several offers for Stewart Downing, Spurs have pulled out of their threeyear pursuit of the Boro and England left winger.

According to Tottenham insiders, Downing 'lost his nerve' when asked outright by Boro whether he wanted to join the Ramos revolution. Spurs trod a similar path when Martin Jol was manager and they have lost patience with the £12m-rated player.

Spurs must also decide whether to press ahead with their interest in Rangers and Scotland right back Alan Hutton, despite holding talks with him over the weekend.

Spurs officials showed Hutton, who has also been linked with Manchester United, around the club.

But with Rangers desperate to complete the deal, they are wondering whether to press ahead before the deadline.

Tottenham have admitted defeat in their £6m move for Juventus midfielder Tiago after Levy and sporting director Damien Comolli flew to Turin last Thursday to hold talks.

Tiago wanted to join Paul Robinson, Robbie Keane and King at the club's £60,000-aweek salary ceiling, but Spurs did not rate him that highly.

Any suggestion that they might revive the move was scotched when Alessio Secco, the Juventus sporting director, said: "Tottenham have continued to talk in the last few days, but then beat about the bush, so it is too late to do the deal."