Spurs line up ambitious move for Swansea playmaker Joe Allen
Jan 22 2012 by Dave Kidd, The People
The Tottenham manager has put the 21-year-old Wales midfield man at the top of his wanted list and could tempt Swansea with a January bid.
Allen signed a five-year deal at the Liberty Stadium at the start of the current season, so he would not come cheap.
Boss Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to cling on to *Allen but a bid of more than *?ú10million would tempt the Swans to sell if not this month, then in the summer.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has always backed the idea of signing top young British *talent and could bankroll the move for Allen.
With Bolton closing in on a surprise ?ú5m deal for *attacking midfielder Giovani dos Santos, the White Hart Lane club should have plenty of funds available to launch a bid.
Redknapp is keen for Spurs to keep *improving their squad and a move for Allen could help *persuade his Wales *international team-mate Gareth Bale that his long-term future remains in north London.
Luka Modric’s future *remains in doubt, though, with the Croatian stalling on a new Spurs deal, knowing he could earn more at Chelsea or Manchester United.
Allen, who has been *outstanding in Swansea’s maiden Premier League *season, is a potential *Modric replacement, although Redknapp has not given hope of keeping the midfielder.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is winning the race for Mexican star Dos Santos.
Spurs are *willing to accept Wanderers’ offer for the *talented player, who is also a target for Spanish sides Sevilla and Villarreal and will be moved on in the window.
However, Bolton are the only club prepared to pay the asking price, although they may ask for Dos Santos, 22, to join them for their survival fight on loan – with a fee fixed to buy him in the summer.
Ambitious Coyle is ready to open talks with Dos Santos once Spurs supremo Levy gives the go-ahead. Bolton are hopeful there will be no other rival late bidders.
Exciting
Coyle is still waiting on word from Blackburn about target Junior Hoilett, 21, but Rovers will not want to sell to a *relegation rival. The Canadian becomes a free agent in the summer.
The Bolton boss will switch to Blackpool’s exciting *winger Matt Phillips, 20, if he fails to land Dos Santos or Hoilett.
Phillips was sent out on loan earlier in the season but is now a key player for the Tangerines, who would *demand a hefty transfer fee.