Tottenham Hotspur have been told that Ben Foster will cost £4 million after they made an inquiry about signing the England goalkeeper.
Manchester United are prepared to allow Foster to leave but they will play hardball because there remains lingering animosity between the clubs after Dimitar Berbatov’s protracted move to United from Tottenham in 2008.
Foster, 26, has made eight of his 11 Barclays Premier League appearances for United this season, but has slipped to third choice at Old Trafford. He joined United from Stoke City for £1 million in 2005.
The prospect of a move to Tottenham would not enhance his chances of playing regularly as he would be a reserve to Heurelho Gomes. Tottenham have also inquired about Simon Kjaer, 20, the Palermo and Denmark centre half.
Decent bets
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Birmingham City are in talks to sign Maxi L?pez, the FC Moscow forward who has been on loan at Grêmio in Brazil. The former Argentina Under-21 player has an Italian passport. Birmingham are also encouraged that Ryan Babel is understood to be willing to move to the club from Liverpool. The winger was offered as part of a swap deal for Kenwyne Jones, the forward, to Sunderland, but the deal has been rejected.
Sunderland remain confident of signing Guy Demel, the Ivory Coast full back, despite the Hamburg chairman stating yesterday that no bid had been received.
Knut Olav Rindaroy, the Molde defender, will travel to Everton tomorrow to discuss a possible move, according to the Norwegian club. The 24-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has scheduled a two-day visit to meet club officials.
Fulham may have switched their attention to Daniel Cousin, the Hull City striker, after ending interest in taking Stefano Okaka, the forward, on loan from Roma. The West London club have given Graham Hutchison, the Lincoln City defender, a trial.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have expressed an interest in signing Tommy Smith on loan. The forward has not scored in 12 matches since he moved to Portsmouth from Watford in August. Younès Kaboul has attracted interest from Lille after Lyons decided against making an offer for the Portsmouth defender.
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Middlesbrough remain determined to fend off bids for Adam Johnson, the winger who is out of contract in the summer, despite interest from Sunderland, Everton, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Middlesbrough have given a trial to Dominique Kivuvu, the Angola midfield player.
Dead certs
Amr Zaki, the forward, is expected to join up with Hull City on Thursday after the Egypt forward completed a loan move from Zamalek. Hull are less optimistic about signing Vladimir Weiss, the winger, because of the loan fee demanded by Manchester City. “It’s ridiculous what they are asking for an unproven player,” Phil Brown, the Hull manager, said.
Long shots
Roman Pavlyuchenko’s hopes of returning to Russia are receding. Spartak Moscow have ruled out paying £15 million to Tottenham for their former forward and Zenit St Petersburg have reconsidered trying to sign him on loan.
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Blackburn Rovers’ interest in Camel Meriem, the former Monaco midfield player, has ended. Swansea City are giving a trial to Mario Simunovic, the Degerfors IF striker.