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Tottenham are confident of signing former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira in a £3.5million deal.
The 33-year-old is set to leave Inter Milan and has received a host of offers from clubs across Europe including Birmingham City, Bordeaux and Lyon.
But Spurs boss Harry Redknapp believes he is winning the race to sign the Frenchman on a two-year contract and is prepared to use Jermaine Jenas as a makeweight in the deal. Inter manager Jose Mourinho remains an admirer of Jenas from his time in charge at Chelsea and is keen to involve the 26-year-old in any agreement.
Vieira may still need convincing over a return to the Premier League, especially to the bitter rivals of the club where he made his name.
He won three League titles and four FA Cups in nine years at Arsenal, where he became the lynchpin of Arsene Wenger's side.
Vieira's last kick in an Arsenal shirt sealed victory in the 2005 FA Cup final penalty shoot-out over Manchester United.
Redknapp is also mulling over the future of Pascal Chimbonda, who has struggled in his second Spurs spell since rejoining from Sunderland in January.
The defender has been earmarked as one of the players Redknapp is willing to sell in order to raise transfer funds.
Chimbonda has already been linked with Portsmouth and Panathinaikos as Tottenham look set to replace him with Sheffield United defender Kyle Naughton but the France international does not want to leave.
He said: "It is the coach who will take the decision. For my part I have heard nothing. I had some lows and some highs last season and it is up to me to lift my head.
"Everyone starts from zero and therefore I will play the best I can to do well this season with Tottenham. I like to play in England, I feel respected there."
However, the 30-year-old admits that if Redknapp wants to sell him he would be interested in a return to the French League, adding: "This is something that could motivate me but not for just any club.
"It would have to be a club such as Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon or Paris St Germain."
Reader views (24)
Why would we want no gooner reject???????????????
- Matt, Deal,Kent,England, 15/07/2009 09:21
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A story like this has done the damage and brought the children out to play in the summer. Viera back to London thats a joke. It has been a slow summer transfer so far at WHL can't wait for the real fire works to start. Can you imagine letting Chimbonda leave again after buying him back! Oh how the stomach turns, who thinks this stuff up to make a living.
- Colony John, Vancouver Canada, 15/07/2009 06:37
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Whatever Vieira brought to Arsenal is far over shadowed by his appalling conduct and dispcable habits on the pitch. The diving, spitting and unacceptable aggression have no place at Tottenham.
Besides this, he is too old and can you really looking for any more than a sucker club to pay him one last ridiculous wage.
Lets consign this one to the "Never gonna happen" rumour toilet.
- Andy, Folkestone, 14/07/2009 22:54
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Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
- Hat, London, 14/07/2009 21:53
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My goodness, I hope the boredom of the close season will pass for you children having a go at each other over a rumour when the EPL kicks off again.
Good luck to John Hartson, I was shocked by the news. Here's hoping he will make a full recovery.
It's times like this you realise it's only a game.
- Kevin, London, 14/07/2009 17:46
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We've been here before......Edgar Davids !
Until you hear it from a club official, dont believe everything you read.
The only player we have seriously spoken too is Huntelaar, but he is not happy with his salary offer after uk tax!!!
- Paxton, N17, 14/07/2009 17:15
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"Champions League spot"!!
You slay me Jamie! Keep going, please!
- Stu, Beckton, 14/07/2009 16:32
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Wow, so you'd like to knock a guy with brain cancer Jamie, and that, in some way, is supposed to be a decent retort. And I'M the one who needs to get a life?
The rest of the Big Club tm fans must be so proud to be associated with people like you. And why exactly do you think this page "belongs" to Big Club tm fans only?
You don't seem to have a very stable grasp on life, arguments, football or indeed owning a brain, so please, go and play back outside away from the big boys.
As for Adrian..."get in Huntelaar and Sneider...", yep, THAT'S more like it...
- Stu, Beckton, 14/07/2009 16:18
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Captain Black - you obviously have an interesting imagination, for I am clearly not Captain Scarlet & South London happens to be where I live, if thats the clue you refer to, a little bit obvious isn't it?. Jamie - I could easily name a number of managers who could have replicated Harry's 8th place finish, taking into account the squad he inherited & the vast sums spent in the January break. The financial mess left since Harry departed Portsmouth, Southampton, West Ham & Bournemouth should sound the alarm bells ringing at WHL, dont you think?
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 14/07/2009 15:51
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Evs, well spotted. I posted a message here a few days back stating "Rob Hotspurs" is a Gooner masquerading as a Tottenham supporter in order to take the mick out of us, so anything he says can be ignored.
Whatever the talents of Harry Redknapp might be or have, he'll do it his way and if that means selling a dummy by appearing to chase after Vieira, so be it.
Rob, old son, have you worked out yet how you give yourself away as a Gooner? No? You must try harder, mate.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 14/07/2009 15:29
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Rob who was it you wanted to succeed from ramos?That could of taken us from a very poor 20Th place in October to a champions league spot by the end of the season.What you have wrote here is more or less the same reply i gave you at Christmas,When you was calling for levy's head.You keep bleating on about jol that's in the past get over it as there is nothing that can be done about that now.I have explained to you 2 or 3 times in the past that i & probably every other genuine Spurs fan was not happy to Jol sacked.As for me thinking top 4 that for sure has never passed my lips & i find it extremely embarrassing if read or heard!
Westham stu 2 words for you (John Hartson)
Any other spammer this is not a thread on your club & it is not me hijacking it.
- Jamie, essex, 14/07/2009 15:14
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DON'T WANT HIM!
- Colin, London, 14/07/2009 14:55
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Hmm, well it seems Harry is living up to my fears, don't which players to bring in and let go..
Harry firstly look at some of the reserve players like Dorvitte, Dos Santos and others, they should be making their mark.. Get rid of Jenas, Boateng, done well with Zokora, Bent...Get in Sneijder and Huntelaar , these 2 along with Maxi Rodriguez and Migel Veluso....
- Adrian, london, 14/07/2009 14:26
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Basically ... it's only a game! As a Spurs fan for over 40 years maybe it's just as well!
- Paul, London, 14/07/2009 14:03
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Jamie, where have any of knocked Harry for that? It's a huge achievement to have spent however many millions it was more than us (almost £50 I believe) in order to finish two whole goals better off than little old West Ham.
What he will get knocked for is his blatant attempts to unsettle players, which everyone except the FA and a few Spurs supporters with a sense of realism (they do exist, I know one), fail to see.
As someone that supports a club he once managed, heed my warning that he will leave you in severe financial difficulty when he goes. Feel free to ignore me now, but in a few years time just you see...
- Joe, Romford, 14/07/2009 13:21
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Hahahahah- Redknapp hasn't got a clue has he. He has not got the skill or intelligence to actually build a team and he cant even buy one as no top player would be seen dead within miles of Spurs. Didnt you spend fortunes last year and tell everyone this is it. Now he goes looking for Vieira who at his peak was the best player in the land. Trouble was that was years ago and sad Spurs cant see that. I hear they are also trying to get Campbell back.
- Spider, essex uk, 14/07/2009 13:17
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Jamie - I fail to understand your comments. As a realistic Tottenham fan, I am able to comment on the fact that an aging Vierra dsicarded by our greatest rivals as his ability declined, is hardly a positive signing. Maybe you are happy to finish in 8th place with Harry, I for one am not & only wish the board had supported Jol & continued his tremendous work, finishing 5th two seasons running, knocking on the door of Champions League qualification for the first time in our history. Its time you got a life & stop falling for the same old we are going to finish top 4 & above Arsenal. Do you seriously think we have any chance of finishing above Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal? Indeed 6th place is the best we can hope for. Wake up & smell the reality, rather than criticizing fellow Tottenham fans. No wonder Arsenal fans continue to laugh at us?
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 14/07/2009 13:12
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I am pleased to announce Tottenham have now secured their first title of the new season: The most players signed in one close-season without anyone actually signing. I make it almost 30 now. Good old Harry...
- Hack, Brentwood, 14/07/2009 12:57
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What does it tell you? I hate Spurs.
As for throwing childish insults, the irony of calling us "small minded" is wonderful, I presume it's intentional as well Jamie, yes?
And I constantly comment on West Ham news, so you're wrong about that as well.
Oh dear. Try and do better next time.
Now go away.
- Stu, Beckton, 14/07/2009 12:50
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Rob NOTspurs for any one that has not worked it out yet is really a gooner!Just waiting for becton stu to add his witty rib cracking comments.They never comment on news generated from their own clubs but constantly knock our club.What does this tell you about these small minded men (apart from they need to grow up & get a life)Me personally will support my team & manager until there is a reason to complain.Taking us from rock bottom to 8th is not a valid reason to constantly knock him.
UP THE SPURS
- Jamie, essex, 14/07/2009 12:17
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"Well, people will say I'm mad to sign the boy, but then they said I was mad to sign Di Canio at West Ham. A boy like <insert linked players name> is a natural talent for sure, but I don't want to talk about him because he's under contract at <insert linked players current club> and I don't like talking about other clubs players. But if you were to sit there and ask me if I wanted <insert linked players name> at Tottenham Hotspur then for sure I would, for sure. Besides, all I know is that somebody told me the boy just wants to come here and play football for us, for sure."
H Redknapp, accidentally forgetting to update his press release, 5 minutes ago
- Joe, Romford, 14/07/2009 12:16
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why doesnt rob so called hotspurs clear off with his really positive spouting???,he really is a happy guy,get behind the club for a change not knock it.him and the excellent Palacios could be strong,freeing Modric up to do what he does best..c.o.y.s
- Evs, herts, 14/07/2009 11:31
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Harry could do worse than bring that type of grit into midfield alongside Palacious. A lot of people commenting here are knocking Harry and saying he's yesterdays news, but he's a proven Premiership Manager and a good judge of players.
So just look forward to a good season under Harry and support what he's trying to do.
- Kevin C, London, 14/07/2009 10:59
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Not satisfied with the transfer policy of re-signing players last season, our new policy appears to be signing geriatric Arsenal cast offs. Maybe we can tempt Ian Wright out of retirement?
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 14/07/2009 10:55
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