Post by longshot on Jul 31, 2008 9:54:12 GMT 7
The Russians are coming...and Bentley, too, as Spurs prepare to break the bank
By Matt Barlow
Last updated at 12:41 AM on 31st July 2008
Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko will be the next recruits to sign up for the Tottenham revolution after David Bentley's transfer from Blackburn neared completion on Wednesday night.
Bentley spent yesterday in North London having a medical and looking around the training facilities after the clubs agreed an initial fee of £15million, which could rise by £2m depending on achievements.
Millionaires in a row: Russians Andrei Arshavin (left) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (centre) and England winger David Bentley are costing Tottenham a small fortune.
The England winger will be officially unveiled as a Spurs player today on a five-year deal before flying to Rotterdam with the team to prepare for pre-season friendlies against Celtic tomorrow and Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
Though a Tottenham fan as a boy, Bentley emerged through the youth ranks of rivals Arsenal, and about £6.5m of the transfer fee is destined for the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners sold Bentley to Blackburn for £1.5m in January 2006 but negotiated a clause which entitled them to almost 50 per cent of any future profit.
As the finishing touches were being put to the Bentley deal, Spurs were on to their next business, a £34m twin raid on Russia, with fees agreed of £19m for Arshavin and £15m for Pavlyuchenko.
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Those two signings will take manager Juande Ramos's spending through the £100m barrier since he arrived from Sevilla less than a year ago, although he has recouped a sizeable chunk of that in this summer's outgoings.
Steed Malbranque became the latest player to leave last night when he joined Sunderland for £4m on a four-year deal.
Pascal Chimbonda and Teemu Tainio had already made the same switch for a combined total of £6m, but Robbie Keane's £19m move to Liverpool has been the biggest departure.
Paul Robinson has joined Blackburn for £3.5m while fellow goalkeeper Radek Cerny left for QPR on a free and Anthony Gardner joined Hull on loan.
Arshavin, 27, defied Tottenham's wishes to play for Zenit St Petersburg in a goalless draw against CSKA Moscow last night in an important League game.
He has spent his entire career at Zenit, but they conceded defeat in their battle to keep the striker, the Russian Player of the Year, when he turned down a five-year deal to stay worth nearly £4m a year after tax.
Spurs cannot compete with the lucrative package offered by superrich Zenit but Arshavin has decided to pursue his personal ambition with a move abroad and is destined to become one of the top earners at White Hart Lane.
A source close to the player said: 'He doesn't ask for the same money as he could get from Zenit. He will come for much less but he's not ready to play for peanuts.'
A deal has also been struck for Spartak Moscow's Pavlyuchenko, Arshavin's strike partner in the Russia side, and it is hoped that will make it easier for them both to settle in London.
Triple delight: Darren Bent celebrates after hitting a hat-trick in Tottenham's friendly win at Leyton Orient.
Pavlyuchenko, 26,wrecked England's chances of making the Euro 2008 Finals when he scored twice in a qualifier in Moscow last October. He and Arshavin linked well in the Euros as Russia progressed to the last four.
The arrival of Pavlyuchenko indicates Spurs are ready to sell Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United or elsewhere for over £30m. He didn't even make the bench in a friendly at Leyton Orient last night.
Ramos still wants left winger Diego Capel from former club Sevilla, while Real Zaragoza strikers Diego Milito and Ricardo Oliveira have also been tracked.
Zaragoza have rejected an £8m bid from Napoli for Milito but accept he will leave after their relegation from La Liga last season. However, they are anxious to hang on to Oliveira.
Darren Bent, who cost £16.5m last summer but barely featured, could leave, with Everton and Sunderland having expressed an interest.
Amid all the comings and goings, Jermaine Jenas and Michael Dawson signed five-year contracts at White Hart Lane yesterday.
Dawson was captain last night as Spurs came back to beat their League One opponents 5-1. Jason Demetriou fired Orient ahead after only four minutes but Spurs responded with two goals in the opening two minutes of the second half.
Bent equalised from close range from substitute Giovani's low corner, then Aaron Lennon headed in Didier Zakora's centre.
Luka Modric made it 3-1 on 56 minutes with a deflected shot before Bent hit his second on 66 minutes from an acute angle. Bent completed his hat-trick after 81 minutes.
By Matt Barlow
Last updated at 12:41 AM on 31st July 2008
Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko will be the next recruits to sign up for the Tottenham revolution after David Bentley's transfer from Blackburn neared completion on Wednesday night.
Bentley spent yesterday in North London having a medical and looking around the training facilities after the clubs agreed an initial fee of £15million, which could rise by £2m depending on achievements.
Millionaires in a row: Russians Andrei Arshavin (left) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (centre) and England winger David Bentley are costing Tottenham a small fortune.
The England winger will be officially unveiled as a Spurs player today on a five-year deal before flying to Rotterdam with the team to prepare for pre-season friendlies against Celtic tomorrow and Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
Though a Tottenham fan as a boy, Bentley emerged through the youth ranks of rivals Arsenal, and about £6.5m of the transfer fee is destined for the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners sold Bentley to Blackburn for £1.5m in January 2006 but negotiated a clause which entitled them to almost 50 per cent of any future profit.
As the finishing touches were being put to the Bentley deal, Spurs were on to their next business, a £34m twin raid on Russia, with fees agreed of £19m for Arshavin and £15m for Pavlyuchenko.
More...
Tottenham's Kaboul set to shun Sunderland in favour of Pompey switch
Spurs ready to unveil Bentley as England winger seals his move from Blackburn
Dawson and Jenas sign contract extensions at Spurs until 2013
Those two signings will take manager Juande Ramos's spending through the £100m barrier since he arrived from Sevilla less than a year ago, although he has recouped a sizeable chunk of that in this summer's outgoings.
Steed Malbranque became the latest player to leave last night when he joined Sunderland for £4m on a four-year deal.
Pascal Chimbonda and Teemu Tainio had already made the same switch for a combined total of £6m, but Robbie Keane's £19m move to Liverpool has been the biggest departure.
Paul Robinson has joined Blackburn for £3.5m while fellow goalkeeper Radek Cerny left for QPR on a free and Anthony Gardner joined Hull on loan.
Arshavin, 27, defied Tottenham's wishes to play for Zenit St Petersburg in a goalless draw against CSKA Moscow last night in an important League game.
He has spent his entire career at Zenit, but they conceded defeat in their battle to keep the striker, the Russian Player of the Year, when he turned down a five-year deal to stay worth nearly £4m a year after tax.
Spurs cannot compete with the lucrative package offered by superrich Zenit but Arshavin has decided to pursue his personal ambition with a move abroad and is destined to become one of the top earners at White Hart Lane.
A source close to the player said: 'He doesn't ask for the same money as he could get from Zenit. He will come for much less but he's not ready to play for peanuts.'
A deal has also been struck for Spartak Moscow's Pavlyuchenko, Arshavin's strike partner in the Russia side, and it is hoped that will make it easier for them both to settle in London.
Triple delight: Darren Bent celebrates after hitting a hat-trick in Tottenham's friendly win at Leyton Orient.
Pavlyuchenko, 26,wrecked England's chances of making the Euro 2008 Finals when he scored twice in a qualifier in Moscow last October. He and Arshavin linked well in the Euros as Russia progressed to the last four.
The arrival of Pavlyuchenko indicates Spurs are ready to sell Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United or elsewhere for over £30m. He didn't even make the bench in a friendly at Leyton Orient last night.
Ramos still wants left winger Diego Capel from former club Sevilla, while Real Zaragoza strikers Diego Milito and Ricardo Oliveira have also been tracked.
Zaragoza have rejected an £8m bid from Napoli for Milito but accept he will leave after their relegation from La Liga last season. However, they are anxious to hang on to Oliveira.
Darren Bent, who cost £16.5m last summer but barely featured, could leave, with Everton and Sunderland having expressed an interest.
Amid all the comings and goings, Jermaine Jenas and Michael Dawson signed five-year contracts at White Hart Lane yesterday.
Dawson was captain last night as Spurs came back to beat their League One opponents 5-1. Jason Demetriou fired Orient ahead after only four minutes but Spurs responded with two goals in the opening two minutes of the second half.
Bent equalised from close range from substitute Giovani's low corner, then Aaron Lennon headed in Didier Zakora's centre.
Luka Modric made it 3-1 on 56 minutes with a deflected shot before Bent hit his second on 66 minutes from an acute angle. Bent completed his hat-trick after 81 minutes.
