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Palacios set for Spurs medical
Tom Collomosse & Simon Johnson20 Jan 2009
Wilson Palacios is set to have a medical at Tottenham today before completing his £14million move from Wigan.
Spurs have fought off competition from Manchester City and Manchester United and are confident they will agree a £25,000-a-week package with the 24-year-old.
The deal will provide a major boost for manager Harry Redknapp, who sees strengthening central midfield as vital to the club's hopes of staying in the Premier League.
Palacios's arrival would be Spurs' second January signing after Jermain Defoe, but Redknapp still hopes to bring in more players, with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt and Aston Villa left-back Nicky Shorey also on his radar.
If Redknapp can complete the deal today, the Honduran would then be available to play when their League campaign resumes with a home game against Stoke on 27 January.
After picking up his 10th booking of the season last Saturday, Palacios must serve a two-match suspension but he would have been ineligible for Spurs' next two matches at Burnley in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final tomorrow night, and at Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday anyway, as he has already played for Wigan in those competitions.
If a deal cannot be concluded before the trip to Turf Moor, Palacios will have to wait until the match away to Bolton on 31 January for his debut.
Redknapp is desperate to finalise the move for Palacios after suffering more frustration in the transfer market this week. Sunderland are determined not to let £15m-rated striker Kenwyne Jones move to White Hart Lane and the Spurs boss could now turn his attention to Lyon striker Fred.
Tottenham have also bid £2m for Newcastle keeper Steve Harper as Redknapp seeks competition for Heurelho Gomes.
Reader views (8)
Adel Tarbat is a fantastic footballer, if he is given the chance this guy can be amaizing. we got defoe for 15 million and he needs 3/4 chances to score one goal. He is a selfish player and does not know what a team game is, he cannot link play and that 15 million was paid for his pace and pace ONLY. look at him and Bellamy. Who would you rather have when it comes to football matters on the pitch? Adel is a better player then defoe.
- Joe, London, 21/01/2009 09:15
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They need to give adel taarabt a go first the kids a genius
- Jordan, Australia, 20/01/2009 14:54
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if he were that good - man u would have wanted him?
- Joe, London, 20/01/2009 14:04
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he is not ordinary at all.i cant see man utd and money bags man city being linked with ordinary players...he has been getting rave reviews all season...not bad for ordinary players is it?? its just what spurs need someone who gets stuck in,with plenty of oace and power.. its what you have too pay these days for fellow prem players
- Phil, croxley, 20/01/2009 13:10
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Is this happening? seems like it's been ongoing for ages he'es what we need as we need good aggressive mid field players in the battle to stay in the premiership.
- Dean, caerphilly,wales, 20/01/2009 11:58
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Palacios is far from ordinary. He is exactly what we need in the team.
- Nickgt, LDN., 20/01/2009 11:08
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palacios is a young very good player,he is also getting better in every match,for once we would be getting some one we really need,he is a better version of zokora,we need some one like this guy.he will be a great addition.
- Drew, stevenage, hertfordshire, 20/01/2009 10:49
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Are we desperate, this very ordinary player for £14 million!
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 20/01/2009 09:51
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