Tottenham Hotspur are aiming to capitalise on the summer exodus from Leeds United and have admitted they are interested in signing their Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane.
The 22-year-old forward, who scored three times at the World Cup finals, is available for transfer and rejected a £8million move to Sunderland last month. Despite having sold Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United for £30million, the Leeds manager Terry Venables is still keen to trim his squad and will listen to offers for Keane, one of six strikers at his disposal.
Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough had been hoping to entice the former Wolves and Coventry forward, though Tottenham would prove a more tempting destination with the director of football David Pleat confirming: "We are keeping abreast of the Robbie Keane situation."
Spurs have already released Chris Armstrong and are keen to offload the £11million Sergei Rebrov, with Keane his preferred replacement. Leeds are willing to sell the striker, who cost £12million from Internazionale in May 2001, with Gary Kelly, Ian Harte, Michael Duberry, Stephen McPhail and Jason Wilcox also available.
Keane scored the third goal in Leeds' 5-1 win over Green Town FC in Hangzhou, China, yesterday.
After 531 games for Manchester United Denis Irwin has completed a free transfer to First Division Wolves. The 36-year-old was released by United after 12 years at Old Trafford and Wolves manager Dave Jones, who guided the club to the play-offs last season, said: "I am pleased to have picked up such an accomplished player, whose pedigree is second to none."
Irwin will fill the void left by the departure of Kevin Muscat to Rangers.
Jones targeted the former Republic of Ireland international and fought off a host of clubs to land the versatile full-back.
He added on the club's official website, www.wolves.co.uk: "The experience he will bring to the squad is unprecedented.
"It was a scoop to pick him up with so many other clubs chasing him. He is going to be of great benefit to the club. He is without doubt a top professional."
It is hoped the arrival of Irwin, who brings with him experience of Champions League and Premiership glory, will help instil a winning attitude in the squad.
Club chief executive Jez Moxey said: "We hope the fact that Denis has been involved with winning so many honours over the years will be of benefit to our efforts this season.
"Dave was keen to bring Denis to Molineux not only for his experience and undoubted quality but also because he can play at left or right-back and comes to Wolves from a club with a winning culture. Everyone knows we have been looking for someone to fill the gap left by Kevin Muscat and in Denis we have found an excellent replacement."
Blackburn are hopeful that their protracted effort to reunite Dwight Yorke with Andy Cole may be resolved by the end of the week. Talks between the clubs have continued since United rejected Rovers' £4million bid for the Tobagan - who cost £12.6million from Aston Villa in 1998 - towards the end of last season. "The gap between us is not as big as has been reported and we have both moved our valuations," said the United chief executive Peter Kenyon.
Bolton have opened talks with the Real Madrid defender Ivan Campo, capped four times by Spain, over a one-year move that would net the 28-year-old around £1million.
Middlesbrough's floundering attempt to sign Juninho for a third time has prompted the chief executive Keith Lamb to travel to Madrid for talks with the Brazilian's father and agent Osvaldo Giraldo. Despite agreeing a £6million fee with Atletico Madrid, the 29-year-old's terms seemed to have scuppered the deal.
Clinton Morrison's move to Birmingham was further delayed last night as talks on Andrew Johnston's move in the opposite direction to Crystal Palace stalled.
