Morning:
6°c
Spurs step up their bid to sign wanted man Martin Petrov
Jon West and Simon Johnson28 Aug 2009
Tottenham are understood to have made a £3.5million bid to sign Manchester City winger Martin Petrov. Spurs had been interested in the Bulgaria international for a few seasons but lost out to City in 2007 after not being able to offer him the same wages.
He is believed to be on £70,000 a week but is now only a fringe member of the squad at Eastlands following their mass spending in the transfer market.
Harry Redknapp sees Petrov as providing good width on the left flank and signing him would give the Spurs manager the option of moving Luka Modric into a more central role.
City are prepared to do business but will probably hold out for a higher fee before the window closes on Tuesday.
Spurs have already been involved in the transfer market today by agreeing to sell White Hart Lane misfit Kevin-Prince Boateng to Portsmouth for £4m. They are set to loan Jamie O'Hara to the struggling Premier League club.
Pompey have been taken over by Arab tycoon Sulaiman Al Fahim and manager Paul Hart is keen to spend his cash before the transfer deadline.
Boateng, 22, has played only 14 times for Spurs since his £5.5m move from Hertha Berlin two years ago, including Wednesday's Carling Cup win at Doncaster, where the German Under-21 international's first contribution was to concede a penalty.
Redknapp said: "I believe the sale is for £4m. He hasn't played much but he cost a lot in the first place."
O'Hara's departure, however, is only to get more first-team action as Modric is keeping him out of the side.
Redknapp said: "Jamie is a terrific young player who needs to play games so we're prepared to let him go out on loan until Christmas. Certainly they would be getting an excellent player. If they can sort something out then I would let him go for a couple of months."
Reader views (2)
That's more like it 'Arry boy. Another temperamental lightweight - you'll have to buy a bigger bus to take 'em all to the away games and a jumbo jet to fly them abroad. Oh no, sorry, I forgot you didn't qualify for Europe. If the squad gets any bigger you'll need to hire the 02 Arena for the Christmas staff party.
I'm not sure who's most bonkers and entertaining me more, Levy's lot at the Lane, the Arabian madhouse at Eastlands or the Benitez induced debacle at Liverpool. Thinks.......nah, definitely Anfield and the megalomaniacal unhinged Spaniard - at least 'Arry's one of the good guys.
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire, 28/08/2009 16:42
Report abuse
As a Man city fan, I'm praying that "Rigsby" doesn't jump ship and go to Spurs.
He's much more direct than Robinho, he just bombs straight towards goal whenever he gets the ball. His disadvantages are that he's extremely left-footed, and he never tracks back. We love him all the same.
If you're playing Chesterfield in the FA cup, your players are playing a beautiful passing game, but getting knowhere, then its time to bring Petrov on. He will run at the defence, and shoot with his left foot, 9 times out of 10. No noncense. Have it!
I'd pick him over Robinho in away games, or when it's raining. Please don't go.
- Zorrin Drax, Reading, UK, 28/08/2009 16:42
Report abuse
