Tottenham want Carlo Cudicini to solve their goalkeeping crisis but are struggling to agree a deal with Chelsea before the end of the transfer window.

Manager Harry Redknapp has been desperately searching for another keeper to provide competition for Heurelho Gomes and hopes to buy Cudicini for around £1million.

The Italian is out of contract in the summer and he has spent the past five years as a back-up to Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge. He has started just 25 League games since Cech joined from Rennes in 2004 and been told by Chelsea his deal will not be renewed.

There was speculation Cudicini was meeting Spurs for talks this morning but he turned up at Chelsea's training ground as normal.

It would be a surprise if manager Luiz Felipe Scolari was prepared to let Cudicini go as that would leave him with just Portuguese keeper Hilario and Wales Under-21 international Rhys Taylor as cover for Cech.

But Redknapp is still hoping a deal can be agreed, even though he has grown more satisfied with Gomes's performances in the past two months after a poor start to his career at White Hart Lane.

The Brazilian has been playing through a groin injury in recent weeks and his No2 Cesar Sanchez has been allowed to join Valencia until the end of the season because he is not up to the job. That only leaves 22-year-old Ben Alnwick, who is expected to make his debut at Burnley tonight, as cover.

Newcastle's Steve Harper has also been the subject of a £2m inquiry from Spurs as Redknapp attempts to re-build his squad.

The £14m deal for Wilson Palacios from Wigan has gone through, subject to a work permit, and Jermain Defoe joined from Portsmouth for £15.75m at the start of the month.

Today there were also claims from Marco Materazzi's agent that Spurs have made a move for the Inter Milan defender. “Tottenham have expressed a real interest in Marco,” said Claudio Vigorelli.