Mostly Spurs gossip
Tuesday April 05 2005
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JRR TO SPURS
Tottenham are the favourites to sign Villarreal's on-loan Barcelona midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme, say the Daily Mirror. The Spaniards would love to sign the 26-year-old Argentine playmaker themselves, but the £8.5m price tag is reportedly beyond them. A Villarreal spokesman said: "A number of Premiership teams are interested in Juan Roman. He's happy here and we'd like to make him a permanent signing, but Barca are inviting offers from all around Europe and we can't match the cash some English clubs can put up."
KEANE ON HIS WAY
Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has registered an interest in Spurs' £7m striker Robbie Keane, who played under him for the Republic of Ireland, after the player's future at the club came into question following his angry reaction to being on the bench for the full 90 minutes in Tottenham's game against Birmingham. Spurs sporting director Frank Arnesen is adamant that he wants to keep the player. He said: "We don't want to see him go, he's a great player. He wants to play but only the manager Martin Jol can make that decision." But Jol's comment is less convincing. He said: "Maybe Robbie Keane was angry but it's not a problem for us, it's his problem."
BLOODY JOHN GREGORY THEN
The Daily Mirror are convinced that former Aston Villa boss John Gregory is the man Portsmouth will unveil as their new boss in the next 48 hours, after Gordon Strachan, who was among three candidates, turned down the job. Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric said: "I hope to make an announcement within the next 48 hours. We cannot wait until the end of the season. We have to act now before it is too late." Gregory, who began his managerial career at Portsmouth, has been out of work since leaving Derby in March 2003. But the Daily Mail still claim it's Strachan's job.
CHELSEA TO SNAP UP YOUNGSTER
Chelsea are set to sign Manchester City's 15-year-old England youth striker Daniel Sturridge after the youngster put a halt to contract talks having learnt of the Blues' interest. A Man City spokesman said: "We will be fighting tooth and nail to keep Daniel here. We have brought many players through our ranks to the first team in recent years." Chelsea could sign him for as little as £1m at the end of the season.
AND THE REST
Newcastle midfielder Darren Ambrose will return to Ipswich if they are promoted to the Premiership...Birmingham boss Steve Bruce is desperate to sign Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker...Arsenal and Newcastle both want Inter Milan midfielder Emre...And Juventus midfielder Alessandro del Piero wants to play football in London.
