Bentley set for switch to Spurs

• zocoss

  18 Jun 08, 22:35

   

  Bentley set for Spurs switch as England star targets London return

  

   

  Tottenham have emerged as strong favourites to sign David Bentley from Blackburn after the England winger indicated that he wants to come back to London. Bentley, who is hoping to leave Blackburn this summer following Mark Hughes’s departure to Manchester City, grew up as a Spurs fan and is understood to have set his sights on a dream switch to White Hart Lane.

  The 23-year-old former Arsenal star has also been linked with moves to Liverpool and City. Bentley has admitted he is desperate to play in European competition next season and while Tottenham aren’t in the Champions League, they have qualified for the UEFA Cup.

  Spurs see the England international as another signing that is crucial to their hopes of challenging the top four next season and getting into Europe’s premier club competition, but they are not prepared to pay the £15million asking price.

  It has been reported that boss Juande Ramos needs to sell first before he can sign any more players, but that is not the case. The club are expected to trim their squad this summer to help balance the budget, but they can start negotiations with Blackburn now.

  Tottenham don’t think Bentley should command a similar fee to Croatia international Luka Modric, who they bought for £15.8m last month. They will hope to secure a deal for £12m, which is the same sum they are demanding Sunderland pay for striker Darren Bent.

  But Blackburn are likely to hold out for more and chairman John Williams insists Bentley’s future will not be decided until the club appoint a new manager.

  Meanwhile, German international striker Lukas Podolski has claimed Tottenham
  and Juventus want to sign him from Bayern Munich. Spurs have been looking at possible replacements for wantaway Dimitar Berbatov and it has been reported in Germany that Podolski, who has scored three goals at Euro 2008, has been the subject of a £15.8m bid.

• haoguanghg

  18 Jun 08, 22:52

  Why don't English players trying venturing out of England?

• omgukilledkenny

  29 Jun 08, 14:14

  Bentley set to snub Rafa bid

  Liverpool are back in the hunt for England star David Bentley - but look set to lose out to Tottenham.

  Reds boss Rafa Benitez has contacted new Blackburn boss Paul Ince and told him he wants Bentley.

  Liverpool have already made one bid of £12million, but are prepared to meet Blackburn's asking price of £15million.

  Benitez is likely to miss out, however, as Bentley prefers a return south having started his career at Arsenal.

  And their north London rivals Tottenham remain favourites to sign the 23-year-old midfielder, although Chelsea are also believed to be interested.

  Ince may prefer to sell Bentley to Spurs as he can ask for cash plus players as part of the deal.

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  Spurs are prepared to let Aaron Lennon move to Ewood Park, but the Rovers boss may ask for mis-fit striker Darren Bent.

• brokenluv

  29 Jun 08, 17:10

  Originally posted by haoguanghg:

  Why don't English players trying venturing out of England?

  
  yeah i was thinking too. it will help england national team to improve if more players experience football outside of england

• Spartans

  29 Jun 08, 19:27

  I wonder why Bentley dun treasure his future.

  From Blackburn to Tottemham is quite a big step backward.

  Is he mad?

• cantdecide

  29 Jun 08, 22:06

  tottemham isnt a smaller club compared to blackburn. and tottemham can provide european football. i do hope bently comes to liverpool though.we need wingers

• F.raon.I.R

  29 Jun 08, 22:36

  again.how many players spurs need to buy?!

  another english player again.but gd for the 6-5 new rule

• Spartans

  29 Jun 08, 22:42

  Originally posted by cantdecide:

  tottemham isnt a smaller club compared to blackburn. and tottemham can provide european football.

  Spurs will always be Spurs.

  Languishing in the 2nd tier of the EPL.

  At least Blackburn is progressing slowly.

• Trump_Card

  29 Jun 08, 22:45

  Spurs forgot the fact Bentley was a Arsenal reject lol

• gunner77

  29 Jun 08, 22:57

  spurs agan

  where do spurs has get all the big money? shitty club

• cantdecide

  30 Jun 08, 01:44

  the 6-5 rule going to screw alot ppl up la.

   

  i see big clubs spending alot of cash to buy good english players and smaller clubs kena bully by the players saying they wan to leave to play for big clubs

• iceFatboy

  30 Jun 08, 13:28

  Originally posted by Spartans:

  Spurs will always be Spurs.

  Languishing in the 2nd tier of the EPL.

  At least Blackburn is progressing slowly.

  Blackburn won the league in 80s, after that, dying until Hughes came, and did a cardiac arrest.It is still unsure how the loss of Hughes will impact Blackburn..

  I do believe if Spurs were to progress the way they did prior to the carling cup victory, they would be able to do well in the league next season.