SOCCER:TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR have stepped up their interest in the Ajax striker Luis Suarez. Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, is determined to improve his options up front in order to secure a finish in the Premier League's top four and has also checked on the availability of Sevilla's Luis Fabiano.
Tottenham, who have agreed a fee of €3.6 million with Everton for the midfielder Steven Pienaar, face competition from Liverpool for Suarez. The Merseyside club have scouted the Uruguayan since August – the caretaker manager, Kenny Dalglish, made some of the visits himself – and they contacted Ajax at the weekend to check on availability and possible prices. Suarez, who played for Uruguay at last summer’s World Cup, is known to be interested in playing alongside Fernando Torres.
Tottenham have asked Ajax the same questions and sent scouts to scrutinise the player. Ajax are in debt and they would be tempted to cash in on Suarez if they were to receive an offer near €18 million.
Redknapp has a shortlist of attacking targets which includes Newcastle United’s Andy Carroll. Spurs also asked Real Madrid last month if they could take Karim Benzema on loan until the end of the season. Real, though, have lost Gonzalo Higuain to a back problem and Jose Mourinho is unlikely to sell.
Redknapp is an admirer of the Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra, whom he employed at Portsmouth, and has already tried to sign the Frenchman. Fabiano is a viable option, despite complications over who owns him. Sevilla are entitled to only a third of his transfer value and, were he to move to the Premier League, third-party ownership issues would have to be settled.
