Spurs to offer cash plus Bassong to land Samba

Spurs have stepped up their interest in Blackburn defender Chris Samba and are ready to offer cash plus Sebastian Bassong as part of the deal.

The Congo international has expressed his desire to leave Ewood Park, despite signing a new five-year contract earlier this year.
It’s been reported that Arsenal is his preferred destination, but north London rivals Spurs look in pole position to land the 27-year-old stopper.
And they are ready to part compnay with 26-year-old Bassong, who has falled down the pecking order at White Hart Lane, in a bid to push the deal through.
The Cameroon international joined Spurs from Newcastle in 2008 and started just 12 league games last season.

Now Sven wants to buy Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane is poised to become Sven Goran Eriksson's biggest signing of the summer.

Leicester boss Eriksson is preparing a £3million bid for the Spurs striker and is confident of persuading the Republic of Ireland international to join his bid to take the Championship side back to the top flight.
After missing out on Reading striker Shane Long, who has joined West Brom in a £7m deal, and having three bids for Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard rejected, Eriksson is ready to offer Keane an escape from his frustrations at White Hart Lane.
The 31-year-old spent a disappointing loan spell at West Ham last season and has been touted around Premier League clubs in an attempt to get his whopping wages off Spurs' books.

Eriksson is prepared to offer the former Liverpool star a lucrative salary and take the total of transfer fees paid out for Keane - who has also played for Wolves, Inter Milan, Coventry and Leeds and had a loan spell at Celtic - over his career towards a mind-boggling £80m.
"I always said if we can get a striker with a good goal-scoring record, we are going to try," said the Swede.
"If there is a proven striker who can score 20 goals, then we will work hard to bring him in."
Eriksson has already signed 11 players over the close-season.

Spurs game off, other nine to go ahead

Tottenham's clash at home to Everton on Saturday will be the only English Premier League match postponed due to the riots in London.

The Premier League have confirmed all other nine matches from Saturday to Monday will go ahead as scheduled, but White Hart Lane, located in the north of London, will not host a match this weekend.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore confirmed the news on Thursday.
"The very latest situation is that Tottenham and Everton has gone," he said.
"The police have done a fantastic job, but it's been a crime scene all week and the council have not had enough time to do what they need."
"The other nine fixtures are looking positive, subject to any more trouble."
"At 6pm tonight we will have a very clear picture. The Tottenham game is a real shame but we support the police in what they are doing."
"They want these games to go on as much as we do."
A statement on Tottenham's official club website read: "Following ongoing discussions with the necessary authorities regarding this weekend's Premier League home match against Everton, it has now been confirmed that this fixture will be postponed due to safety concerns relating to infrastructure of the High Road and access to the stadium caused by last Saturday's riots."
"We apologise for any inconvenience caused to supporters due to matters outside of the control of the club."
"We shall update fans on when this fixture will be rearranged in due course."
Other matches to be played in London on Saturday are Fulham at home to Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers hosting Bolton Wanderers.

The London riots, which started on Saturday, have claimed four lives and caused widespread damage across England.

Carling Cup draw delivers second round

Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool travel to League One side Exeter City in the pick of the Carling Cup's second-round fixtures.

Drawn on Thursday, Dalglish's men start their domestic cup campaign away at St James' Park.
The Reds manager will hope to avoid another giant-killing, after the English Premier League outfit was knocked out of the competition by Northampton Town in the third round last season.
In the other ties, League Two Crawley Town could host Premier League outfit Wigan Athletic if they get past Crystal Palace, with the fixture in London having been postponed due to riots in the capital.
Elsewhere for Premier League sides, Phil Jagielka has the chance to knock out his old side when Everton face Sheffield United at Goodison Park, while Hereford travel to Aston Villa.
Newcastle will hope to avoid an embarrassing defeat of their own after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Stevenage last season. They are away to League One club Scunthorpe.
Sunderland travel to Brighton, while Swansea play at Shrewsbury and West Brom are at Bournemouth.
Wolves go to Northampton Town's Sixfields hoping that they do not become the second Premier League club knocked out of the competition in successive campaigns.
There are home ties for Blackburn, Norwich, Bolton and QPR as they play Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Macclesfield and Rochdale respectively.

All games will be played in the week commencing Monday, August 22.

Romania ban Mutu, Tamas

Romania have enforced life bans on Adrian Mutu and Gabriel Tamas after the pair went out drinking before a friendly.

National coach Victor Piturca confirmed Cesena's Mutu and West Bromwich Albion stopper Tamas broke a team curfew on Monday, prior to their 1-0 win over San Marino on Wednesday in Serravalle.
Neither of the pair took part in the friendly.
Troubled striker Mutu has a history of misdemeanours. He was involved in an altercation with a barman last October, just days after returning to the pitch from a nine-month doping ban.

The 32-year-old was sacked by Chelsea in 2004 after testing positive to cocaine.