TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR will have to renew their search for a right back after Lucas Neill, the Blackburn Rovers player who is wanted by several clubs as he enters the final year of his contract, decided against joining the North London side.
Tottenham have been watching a number of players in France. They considered for the problem position a move for Hatem Trabelsi, who joined Manchester City, so they will probably turn their attentions to Zdenek Grygera, of Ajax.
West Ham United have agreed a fee that could rise to £2 million for Robert Green, the Norwich City goalkeeper. Green, who is recovering from a groin injury that caused him to miss the World Cup finals, has yet to undergo a medical. Charlton Athletic, who had been in talks with Norwich about signing Green, have signed Scott Carson on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season. The goalkeeper was on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season.
Bolton Wanderers are looking at Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, the PSV Eindhoven striker. Sam Allardyce watched Vennegoor, who has scored 72 goals in 136 league appearances since joining from Twente Enschede in 2001, against Ajax on Sunday.
Bolton have also made an approach for Alexander Kerzhakov. The Zenit St Petersburg forward was voted player of the year in the Russian league last season and was top scorer in 2004-05 with 18 goals.
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After being unable to sign several forward targets, Portsmouth have changed tack and are offering a deal to Kanu, who left West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season. Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, has dismissed his chances of signing Diego Forlán, of Villarreal and formerly with Manchester United, and Klaas Jan Huntelaar, of Ajax.
West Bromwich have joined Derby County in asking to take Arturo Lupoli, the Arsenal forward, on loan, but Newcastle United’s attempt to sign Mido, the AS Roma striker, for the season has been rejected by the Italian club because they want to sell the Egypt player.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in Danny Senda, the Wycombe Wanderers defender, and Jemal Johnson, the Blackburn striker. Blackpool have inquired about Ben Burgess, the Hull City forward.
Fernando Ricksen, the Rangers midfield player, has completed his loan move to Zenit St Petersburg, the Russian club. The 30-year-old passed his medical yesterday after terms were agreed terms on a 12-month deal last week.
The Dutchman will now link up with Dick Advocaat, the former Rangers manager, who signed the player from AZ Alkmaar in 2000. Ricksen fell out of favour with Paul Le Guen, now in charge at Ibrox, when he was sent home from Rangers’ pre-season trip to South Africa after an incident involving a flight attendant. Ricksen had residential counselling for anger management issues and Le Guen claimed that it would be better for the player to find a new club.
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Ricksen will make an immediate return to Glasgow, though, with the Russian club playing in a friendly at Ibrox next week as part of the deal.
Hibernian have completed the signing of Shelton Martis, a defender, from Darlington on a three-year deal. The 23-year-old Dutchman, who joined Darlington on a short-term contract last season, began the present campaign on a week-to-week deal after turning down extended terms.