Spurs steal tips Jordan

The week began with a stroke of excellent news for Tottenham after the tribunal was held to conclude the deal seeing John Bostock join White Hart Lane from across the capital.

Juande Ramos escaped proceedings being told to pay just £700,000 for the Eagles’ 16-year-old gem.

After Spurs had previously offered Palace more in the original deal - the South London Chairman Simon Jordan was left seething. And rightly so.

He has seen one of his club’s brightest ever talents stolen right from under his nose at a pittance. You have to laugh. After all it makes a change for Spurs to get the right side of a bargain these days.

But Jordan’s fury could not be any more justified. Who are we to be the enforcer of such sporting robbery? I am afraid it is just one of the many signs of the demise to the game of football.

On this occasion we have profited but who is to say years down the line we may not turn victim to a similar instance. And if Bostock does become merely the next Wayne Routledge, the club should probably take a long hard look at themselves. We owe it to our fellow Football League clubs and the best young English players, to act honourably.

I hope this is not just another example of the game’s biggest clubs exerted their powers, simply because they can. I hope Tottenham are better than that.

Poyet laughs at United

After the first piece of excellent news last week, a second shortly followed.

Amidst rising speculation the Spurs No 2 Gus Poyet could be moving to Old Trafford to become Sir Alex Ferguson’s new right-hand man - the Uruguayan proved the gossip was just that. Pure rumour.

With the future of several of the club’s most prized personnel still hanging finely in the balance, Poyet gave the club such a welcomed boost.

While the press would have us think the club was close to collapse, ‘Gus’ stepped in to explain it as myth.

He said the thought of leaving either the team’s manager or players could not be further from his mind. Simply brilliant. What a lift this news provided us with.

A departing quartet?

Next up came a quite simply outrageous transfer bid from Premiership rivals Sunderland.

The Black Cats boss Roy Keane was reported to have launched a £23 million offer for the services of Younes Kaboul, Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Marlbranque.

With it well documented Ramos was looking to trim the squad for further summer strengthening this somewhat crazy transfer pitch gradually became quite appealing.

Ramos’ resolve to tighten his ranks was tested to the ultimate. Could he have the nerve to enforce the shake-up he had promised?

The more we thought about the deal the more it seemed good money. It is crazy but just maybe it was going to happen. Until Kaboul hit the press room.

The Frenchmen stoked the fire claiming he wouldn’t move to Weirside even if there was an earthquake. His skills talking to the media still need brushing up. It is not the first time this year he has caused a stir in the newspapers.

Meanwhile, ‘Chimbo’ was quick to meet with ‘Keano’ and is understood to be close to agreeing terms with the club. Since the arrival of Alan Hutton, I suspect there will not be many fans sad to see the back of him despite spells of solidity at the club.

While seeing the back Tainio and Marlbranque would be a little more disappointing, I think it is probably within their best interests to seek new challenges after some of the names enrolled this summer.

This week should bring a conclusion. The departure of all four would not be a surprise. Although I doubt they will all rock up at the Stadium of Light.

Levy blasts United and Liverpool

With the speculation still rife surrounding the futures of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, Daniel Levy attempted to appease fans with a statement of intent published on the club’s official website slamming the chasing parties.

While it is honourable to see such fight to retain our most valuable assets, it remains to be seen whether this will have influence on the players’ destination come August.

While the reports linking Keane away from the club have angered me greatly, I believe our chances of retaining the Bulgarian are slim. And if possible even slimmer after this week’s events

A good effort Levy it must be said but actions are needed not words.

If they are still here when the transfer window slams shut he can bask in the plaudits. But until then, maybe we should put it down to a top piece of PR.

Wing duo still on the cards

David Bentley and Diego Capel may still grace the Spurs colours next season, it emerged this week.

While Aston Villa pulled the plug on a further move for the Blackman man, Capel admitted his head could be turned by a bid from former boss Ramos.

While both players are valued at £17 million, the sale of others now seems somewhat essential for these deals to materialise. But we should not give up hope yet.

Just seven days ago the chance of signing either of these talents seemed next to none. But perhaps we should take heart from the new found glimmer.

This week has given us the green light to chase our men.

Berbatov fined?

The Bulgarian was docked £40,000 of wages according to the Sunday newspapers, for continuing his sulks at our pre-season regime in Spain.

You can toss a coin as to whether you believe the stories but I sense things may be turning particularly nasty regarding Berbatov’s future and inevitable exit.

This claim is strengthened with further reports Sir Alex Ferguson is plotting a legal case after Levy’s comments towards the Red Devils on Friday.

I have a sneaky feeling this deal is destined not to run smoothly.

If next week provides us with half as much drama, we could be in for an absolute cracker.

Check back on the Spurs Offside for the latest reaction from events in the Tottenham camp.

Yesterday derived fresh speculation assistant manager Gus Poyet could be heading for the White Hart Lane exit, with The Red Devils’ chiefs earmarking the Uruguayan as the replacement to Sir Alex Ferguson’s departed right-hand man Carlos Quieroz.

And with two of our most important benefactors in achieving future success, possibly in line for moves to Manchester, it begs a very serious question. Are we merely a stepping stone to the country’s ‘Big Four’.

Are we sending out the wrong message? Are we becoming a feeder club to the big boys, or more to the point, Manchester United?

Progression in football is marked by the building of a strong set of staff and players. And this is a process I believe Spurs have excelled in over the last few years, irrespective of our inability to break the stranglehold of the top four over the rest of the division.

The last three seasons in particular have seen Spurs gather on the whole a higher quality of player in its ranks, and acquire staff with a greater European pedigree as we continue to aim to the top.

And while many fans including myself have resigned to defeat in our quest to retain the services of Berbatov this summer, the thought of Ramos’ number two jumping in the Bulgarians passenger seat to Old Trafford, is a thought which terrifies me.

Because to lose two such important components in our search for finer achievement would simply be crushing.

In a period where building is essential, to surrender Dimitar and Gus to the English Champions would prove us to be no more than a ‘best of the rest’ team.

Of course it is flattering to see the finest club side in world football circling personnel from our club. But where does it stop?

Where do we realise our own ambition in achieving long-term success? Where is the line between players and coaches wanting to be at Spurs or the lure of Manchester United being too big of an opportunity to turn down?

I believe we can cope with the loss of Berbatov this season. Quite frankly we have to. But as crazy as it sounds losing Poyet would hit us more. If not only for its unexpectedness, then for its impact on life on and off of the White Hart Lane pitch.

While it is key we push on from last season by adding fresh players to the squad, surely the element of consistency in our management team is too important to neglect.

Under two years ago, Poyet was a coach at Swindon Town. Now he is at Spurs. And I am afraid his job is not done here yet.

So Manchester United - you can not have Poyet!

But not for Spurs fans. In fact it couldn’t be much higher on the list for the White Hart Lane faithful as they continue to be torn by whether or not the Bulgarian will start the new season in Tottenham colours.

This weekend saw the tabloid press take the debate into its most advanced chapter to date with The Sun claiming in their Saturday edition, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had lodged a £20 million bid for the moody hitman.

The story developed further as the Sunday Mirror revealed Berbatov to be the moodiest player in the squad since reporting back to pre-season training just a week ago. It is not at all a surprise but yet more indication towards his likely White Hart Lane exit.

The most recent reports should calm the tide of rumours surrounding Robbie Keane and a move to Liverpool, but it appears such transfer tasks of Berbatov are never going away.

Renewed interest from the English champions is only likely to tempt his other admirers into swooping.

It is this thought which tells me we could be lining up for a mega fee, with as much as £24 million already being reported in the newspapers for his signature.

Not only will this weekend’s speculation alert all of Europe’s Berbatov-chasers. It should also serve as a warning boss Juande Ramos who will need to increase his pursuit for a new forward before the season begins in August.

It we do believe what we read, I find it impossible to see a way of Spurs being able to keep hold of Berbatov this summer.

The lure of Champions League football will be far too big of an opportunity for the Berb to turn down with the years ticking down on his career.

After all, Berbatov’s relationship has hardly been a bed of roses over the last 12 months either. The input of his agent alongside a scattering of abject displays have all is not well as far as the club and player relationship is concerned.

I am not suggesting I will be glad to see the back of him. Of course not. He is a superb player. He is wonderfully gifted and boasts an impressive scoring record in North London as well.

But for Ramos to bring success to N17 next season and beyond - a happy camp is paramount.

Football clubs lose top players every season and we may have to resign to losing one of our very finest. And besides maybe we should learn from a mistake of our arch rivals Arsenal. They held onto their star asset Thierry Henry for one season too long, losing out massively in the cash department when he was sold to Barcelona for half the price they could have sold up for just a year earlier.

All the signs are pointing to a sale.

Let the auction begin.

Fenn was one of those players fans were willing on to be successful at White Hart Lane.

Born just a few miles down the road in Edmonton, his story of ‘local lad done good’ would have been so perfectly fitting.

He could thank an injury hit Spurs squad for his first chance back in the season of 1996/97.

He made his Premier League Tottenham debut as a substitute against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough but had already earned his first start no less than at Old Trafford in an FA Cup tie in January 1997.

Alongside fellow young gun Rory Allen, it was unlikely both would go on to become regular fixtures in the Spurs outfit - but there was certainly room for one. And while Allen was arguably the more natural finisher of the two players, Fenn’s ability to link up play and engineer chances with a dash of intricate touches, he always looked the front-runner to enjoy a longer future with the club.

Allen hogged a lot more of the attention in a period where the likes of Steffen Iversen, Teddy Sheringham and Ronnie Rosenthal all suffered injury troubles. But Fenn looked as if he could offer more in years to come boasting what I would describe as a more mature game.

Upon the return of the more experienced attackers, Fenn was thrown down the gauntlet of proving his quality outside of the top flight with brief loan spells at Leyton Orient, Norwich City and Swindon Town. In a total of 14 outings, Fenn managed just one goal and huge questions surrounded whether he would ever cut it at Spurs.

He had also failed to net in any of his 9 Tottenham chances and failure to excite cost him.

His next destination was Lincoln City and even there Fenn flattered to deceive.

In 2001, Barry Fry took a chance on him as he signed for Peterborough United, handed another opportunity to ply his trade in the Football League. Scoring seven goals in 50 at London Road, Fenn seemed happy enough but still lacked the goals to become sought after property.

He now rolls out for Irish side Bohemian FC where his goal scoring exploits are far from impressive.

Aged 31, his professional career has somewhat passed him by without ever starting. We never saw the best of Fenn who doubtlessly possessed talent.

You just wonder how it could have all been so different had he have scored away at United all those years ago.

Magical Moment: Fenn’s finest Spurs hour came making his full club debut in an FA Cup third round game against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The London-born striker was told just an hour before kick-off he would be coming up against European Cup winning centre-halves David May and Ronnie Johnsen. He led the Tottenham attack alongside Rory Allen, but could not prevent a 2-0 defeat and exit from the cup.

Miserable Moment: Being sent out on loan to Lincoln. By the striker’s own admission this move spelled the end of his time at White Hart Lane. It was the fourth time he had been sent away from the club on a short-term basis and there was never any coming back after Sincil Bank. His Tottenham dream was over.

But Diego Capel’s refusal to move to White Hart Lane ahead of the new campaign is one which should leave a long-lasting bitter taste in the club’s mouth.

The gifted 20-year-old turned down the opportunity to team-up with former Sevilla boss Juande Ramos in N17 earlier this week, insisting life in Spain could not be much better.

I do not sense a great disappointment amongst the fans so far after Capel chose to prolong his La Liga career over a move to north London. But I fear time will tell on what a massive signing we have missed out on.

The left-sided starlet would have provided us with exactly the tonic for our woes over the last decade.

I am not for one second suggesting the absence of a top quality left winger has been the ultimate factor in costing us consistent Premier League success in recent times.

But the failure to fill a massive void left by the departure of our French master David Ginola back in 2000 has without doubt contributed to eight seasons of average achievement.

Players have come and gone trying to emulate the buzz of Ginola - who must be regarded as one of the finest wingers the club has ever seen.

Natural left-footers have failed to follow in his daunting shadow while the makeshift solutions have only ever provided a limited remedy.

The last two summers saw Martin Jol miss out on the captures Damien Duff and Martin Petrov at the hands of bigger wage offers at Newcastle United and Manchester City respectively.

And I cannot help but feel, we have again missed out on the jigsaw piece which has been missing for so long.

Giovanni Dos Santos has been touted by many as the answer to our problem down the left - but this is merely wishful thinking. He is not the out-and-out flanker we really need. He is a striker come wide man. The two are completely different.

To think another summer could go by without addressing this area which has plagued us for so long now - is simply fatal.

There is still time though. And maybe a look back at left wingers since the Ginola days will prove just how much we need to find our man.

Oyvind Leonhardsen had the first crack of filling the Frenchman’s boots switching to the left-side role just a season after joining the club. A bright start was soon tainted when it was clear to see his discomfort there. It was not a natural function for the Norwegian who looked far more effective on the right.

Matthew Etherington was the first player to be signedn to take the mantle. The former Peterborough man was picked up dirt cheap and immediately looked the real deal as he broke on the scene with his blistering pace and ability skip past full-backs at will. But his impact soon faded. His poor crossing limited him to just 45 outings in his three seasons at White Hart Lane. He was swiftly shipped to West Ham deemed out of his depth.

Christian Ziege just came a little too late in his career to be a Spurs great. He always performed when he pulled on the jersey but in fairness his better days were long gone. We caught the end of his time.

Johnnie Jackson sadly produced his better Tottenham displays from the left-side of our defence rather than midfield. He was a young gun with a sweet left peg when he burst into the first-team. The fact that we never saw him beat a man suggested he was never Premiership material. He is now with Colchester United.

Paul Konchesky enjoyed a brief loan spell making 12
Spurs outings on the wing. We all knew the feisty full-back was more accustomed at the back and this was proved further with this stint.

Stephan Dalmat is still the closest we came to producing the next dazzling Ginola. He was pure magic in his loan spell at the Lane. But a training ground bust-up denied him a permanent move.

Andy Reid was the big-money answer to our troubled position. £7 million was lashed at Forest for his services. His quality of final ball was an instant hit but a lack of top flight fitness meant becoming a pivotal cog in the Spurs machine was always unlikely.

Reto Ziegler was and still is a quality player. But thrust into the deep end of the English game at such a young age thwarted his development. In just 24 appearances it was clear he was not the answer, but now at Sampdoria the slower paced game could suit him well.

Timothee Atouba takes the biscuit as the worst ever attempt of filling the void. In his first ever game at home to Liverpool he showed glimmers of quality but he turned into the ultimate Spurs clown. What a joker. All tricks but no end product.

Danny Murphy even had a go. It was the same old same old. Another quality central or right-sided player who failed to adapt on the left. After a flurry of form at Charlton Jol bought in another possible answer. He did not cut the grade.

Adel Taarabt still has a long way to go in proving he can cure our problem. He has penty of energy and all the raw talent but is merely a show pony. He needs to be moulded into a viable option.

Gareth Bale was arguably the closest we came to seeing balance and danger restored down the left. He flourished in his first ten club games until injury stalled his progress. He could still return with a bid though.

Steed Marlbranque more often than not landed on the left-side last season after the arrival of Ramos. The French schemer was one of the squad’s better players over the course of the term but it did not hide the fact he was only a short-term answer.

The Norwegian came and went from N17 like a puff of smoke.

He began life at Spurs in 1992 wherre he would come to England to train with the club on a yearly basis. After showing potential, he was handed a full-time contract in the summer of 1996. With the deaparture of fellow young gun Chris Day, Baardsen was immediately installed as the club’s second choice keeper.

He was shipped in from the continent as a long-term solution to the club’s lack of goalkeeping depth.

He burst onto the first team scene a year later as a raw 20-year-old. He was thrown straight into the deep end making his Tottenham debut at Anfield, coming on as a half-time substitute to replace the injured Ian Walker.

With Spurs trailing 1-0, Baardsen played his first 45-minute spell in a blinding fashion keeping the Reds at bay - but it was not enough to earn a toothless Spurs a share of the spoils.

A year later and the highly-rated custodian earned his international debut too, appearing in Norway’s Euro 2000 qualification match against Latvia. Despite never having lived in Norway, Baardsen still established himself as a regular in the national squad.

It looked as if the Scandanavian was in for a bright future at White Hart Lane and on the international scene after a series of impressive displays for club and country. But just three years after making his first team debut and with only 23 Spurs outings to his name, he was moved on to Watford deemed surplus to requirements by then boss George Graham.

His departure from Spurs prompted his exit from the national stage too and Baardsen faced a task to re-ignite his career which had began with such promise.

His £1.25 million switch to Vicarage Road looked to be the perfect tonic for the towering stopper.

He went on to play 41 games for the Hornets before being dislodged from the first team by Alec Chamberlain.

Banished to the bench, Baardsen cut his losses with a move to Merseyside in 2002, hoping life at Everton would bring more success. Limited to just one game in a disappointing two years at Goodison Park, the Norwegian returned to USA retiring from football, aged 25.

The former Tottenham man is now a Managing Director for an asset management fund called Eclectricaa, enjoying life outside of the game.

Magic Moment: Baardsen boasts a rare Spurs cleansheet away at Arsenal in the 1997/98 season. The Norwegian played in our hard fought 0-0 draw at Highbury that season. Only one Spurs keeper has since held the Gunners to a blank on their own turf.

Miserable Moment: The realisation his days in football were numbered. In a seven-year spell in the Premier League, Baardsen managed just 65 appearances, an average of just under nine per season.

It is difficult to know at this stage exactly which members of the Tottenham squad, Ramos is keen to retain. But Tom has made the cut to Juande’s Revolution.

‘Big Tom’ was one of many left in the dark by the Spaniard after failing to secure a regular first-team slot for much of Ramos’ first season in charge.

The former Seville coach arrived at N17 back in October, but it wasn’t until December we saw ‘The Hudd’ make back-to-back starts in a Spurs jersey. This came amidst reports he had been told to lose weight by the new boss, before being granted a consistent place in the Spurs side.

Huddlestone did his best to impress when given the chance though, scoring two crackers in our Boxing Day crushing of Fulham and providing a calming influence as we put our league form back on track into the New Year.

A string of fine displays failed to make him a permanent fixture in the starting eleven with Didier Zokora and emerging Jamie O’Hara often preferred in the midfield engine room. The young gun was limited to just substitute showings in our two biggest games of the season against Arsenal and Chelsea in the Carling Cup. After missing out on a starting berth for our trip to Wembley, it seemed apparent Huddlestone was destined for life as a back-up player.

This fuelled the fire that he may be partying company from north London this summer. But his set-backs did not deter him.

The youngster continued to deliver when called upon most notably finding the scoresheet with another beauty in our thrilling 4-4 league draw versus Chelsea.

And by now even if Ramos was not won over by Huddlestone’s performances, England boss Fabio Cappello definitely liked what he saw, calling Hudd up for the national teams friendly matches against the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

The arrival of Croatian playmaker Luka Modric looked to be another nail in Tom’s Spurs coffin, but with Everton circling with plans for an £8 million swoop, Ramos decided to open the door.

It has been a campaign of doubt for the midfield man. But it is safe to say, ‘The Hudd’ is here to stay.

You often hear mixed reviews surrounding him on the terraces. His range of passing is exemplary while his long range shooting is quite simply breath-taking.

Some may question his tenacity on the field. For such a big player, he has often failed to boss the midfield battle. Although his fight to earn a new contract proves he is no shirker.

We must not forget he is still very young, and what he lacks in steel, he makes up for with crisp technique.

We are at the end of a very difficult road for Huddlestone but his ability to bounce back each time he has taken a knock makes him deserving of his new deal.

He still needs to blossom into the top player he has threatened to become over the last two years.

But his five-year contract should give him the confidence to build on his young career.

Ramos has assured him of time to develop now. He has been rewarded with the kind of chance many around him would so sorely crave.

He has been shown the utmost faith and loyalty, when it may have been easier for the club to cut their losses for a tidy profit.

Now he must repay us in his performances.

It is time to deliver…

There is no way on this earth we should let our talisman leave the club this summer, or indeed any summer while he is in the form he has consistently showed over the last four seasons.

And Rafa Benitez hasn’t got a hope in hell in luring Robbie to Anfield. His attempts to try are simply laughable.

These reports come just three weeks after Keane peldged his future to the club insisting he would stay at White Hart Lane as long as his services were required.

And after topping the scoring charts last season, winning the Player of the Year award and collecting his first piece of silverware with the club, I think it is safe to assume his position at the head of our attack, is secure.

I doubt the thought of cashing in on the Irishmen has ever crossed Juande Ramos’ mind either.

Keane has now scored over 100 goals for the club and struck a firm affinity with the fans. He loves Spurs and Spurs love him. His deaparture could be no further from either parties’ minds.

This story can only be described as a product of Benitez’s wildest dreams. But, I suppose nothing should surprise us. At least now all our first team strikers have been linked with moves away from the club this summer.

And, it is exactly this kind of dross which should serve as a warning to ever believe the transfer gossip we read in the close season.

What makes the rumoured deal even more insulting is that one of Peter Crouch or Yossi Benayoun would be used as makeweight.

I am not having a pop at either of these players. In fact, I rate them both very highly. But this does not mean they could ever replace our crown jewels: Robbie Keane.

I can understand why Rafa woudl want to bring Robbie to Liverpool ahead of the new campaign. He is a fine Premiership striker with all the ingrededeints to play Champions League football.

But he is at the heart of everything we are trying to build here at Tottenham. He is our orchestrator.

He simply, is not for sale!

The Welsh international has been out of action since picking up a foot injury in our home match against Birmingham City last December.

And the 18-year-old has become White Hart Lane’s forgotten man during his lengthy absence form the first team. But, it seems he is back on the war path, after speaking to the club’s official website just a few days ago.

His interview came as a timely reminder to the Spurs faithful, in the heat of this summer’s transfer speculation. With Bale understood to be near to resuming tarining, it occured to me his long-awaited return to the fold would be like a new signing in itself.

The left-footer only made ten appearances in his maiden season at the Lane, after completing his £10 million switch from Championship club Southampton - but it is difficult to deny the positive impact he had on the side.

He made his Premiership debut at Old Trafford, opened the scoring in our league encounter with arch rivals Arsenal, put in a man-of-the-match display Fulham where he also scored and netted against Middlesbrough in our silverware-ending Carling Cup run.

He proved he can play both comfortably at full-back or on the wing, added much needed balance to the team and adapted to life in the Premiership with pure ease.

And looking back, it is quite remarkable how much young Bale achieved in such a short stint in Spurs colours. I’d go as far as saying he began his Tottenham career as brightly as anyone has over the last decade. It is quite some claim after only seeing him in action for some eight club starts, but I think many fans would go along with me in saying he was like a breath of fresh air to the club.

His bright creative spark was sorely missed after his sudden injury led to his lengthy lay-off. He will feel his Premier League breakthrough was cruelly cut short. But it will only make him more determined to put things right upon his return.

So, just for those of you who had forgotten about Bale - it seems your reminder is just around the corner.

Here’s to his very bright future at N17…

We expected the arrival of many new faces this summer, but none have perhaps been more highly anticipated than that of our new custodian.

The much-raved about Gomes, is set to join us on a deal worth £8 million, which could rise to as much £10 million - and break a British club record for a goalkeeper transfer, beating the £9 million Sunderland paid for Craig Gordon last summer.

With money comes intense pressure. The Brazilian is sure to be under both the media and fans spotlight form the outset of his Spurs career. He will have to stand up and show he can cope. And this is where the major gamble of Juande Ramos’ most recent addition lies. There is no doubting Gomes’ quality and experience. But his ability to cope with the pressure of being a big money signing and playing the Premier League, is the hurdle he must overcome.

With the unbelievably high calibre of goalkeepers arriving in the Premier League from Europe in recent years, the height of expectation surrounding Gomes could not be more more amplified.

The likes of Petr Cech and Pepe Reina have moved to England and earned instant respect as two of the division’s best goalkeepers. Gomes will be mentioned in this type of bracket and compared to some of the best names around. He will need to be ready.

It is good to see Ramos has addressed our ‘problem area’ early on ahead of our forthcoming pre-season campaign. This will give optimum time for the Gomes to strike up a positive relationship with the back four ahead of our first game at Middlesbrough.

The goalkeeper is a bedrock of any team, and it was important we did not leave it too late before finding Paul Robinson’s inevitable replacement. It is certainly a good job done by the Spaniard on that front. Although the ‘value for money’ test may be far more difficult to pass.

After all, there were plenty of cheaper candidates in the frame to take on the number one jersey next season, yet Ramos has opted for the expensive option of four-times Dutch title winner, Gomes. Let’s just hope the wealth of domestic and European experience he brings to our ranks ahead of next season, proves worth the investment .

Cost aside, the Brazil international is a signing most fans should welcome with open arms, especially after seeing him in top form in our last 16 UEFA Cup clash with his former employees earlier this year.

The 27-year-old was only beaten by a spectacular Dimitar Berbatov volley in the second leg of the tie. A string of fine saves, in particular at White Hart Lane paved the way for the Dutch sides progression.

He is an imposing and confident goalkeeper, who should settle into life at Spurs with ease. He overcame strong critics after moving to PSV from Cruziero back in 2004. The Dutch faithful questioned whether Brazil, renowned namely for their attacking players, could produce a goalkeeper of the highest European quality.

It did not prove a problem for Gomes who fast established himself as one of the most talked about keepers in world football. He is a fantastic shot-stopper and commands his area well. He has earned nothing but glowing reports since making his switch to Holland and as a result earned his international call-up from Dunga two years ago, going on to make 17 appearances.

His move to the Lane offers the man a new challenge. A challenge against expectation namely. £10 million should entitle us to a world-class keeper, even in todays market. And, that is what Gomes will have to show us, he is.

He must prove his capabilities all over again and also attempt to win over the Spurs fans, who hold former England number one ‘Robbo’ in their highest affections.

But I am sure if he allows his football to do the talking, he will have no problem in making White Hart Lane his new home.

The arrival of Gomes should spell the end of life at N17 for Robinson now with Aston Villa and Manchester City reported to be on the trail.

I expect his departure to follow within the next seven days, meaning we will again be on the hunt for a new goalkeeper - as cover for Gomes.

But for now, an important summer mission has been accomplished. Good job Juande….