Transfer latest- Chelsea unwilling to part with Cole and Bassong bid rejected (thank the Lord)

Hands up those who wanted to see Joe Cole in a Spurs shirt? That’s most of us then. I’ve long regarded him as the best English player (yes, I do rate him higher than Rooney- scoring a screamer every now and then doesn’t make you quality in my opinion) and I was delighted to see him linked with a move to the Lane. Alas; it now turns out Chelsea have no intention to sell the London boy.

“Contrary to media reports Chelsea is not, and will not be, considering any offers for Joe Cole,” a Chelsea statement read.

“Our sole focus, as is Joe’s, is to complete his rehab and get him fit as soon as possible so that he can play a major part in the new season.”

I always thought the move was too good to be true. Joe Cole is an outstanding player and would solve that tricky left hand side problem, freeing Luka Modric to play just behind the two strikers, save in the knowledge that Sergeant Palacios had his back. The possible (if highly unlikely transfer) wouldn’t only benefit us however. This is a world cup year, and Joe needs to be playing regular football if he is to win his England place back under new ‘gaffer Fabio Capello. He would be guaranteed first team football at the Lane and would be working under the manager who first gave him his big break at West Ham.

Certainly, I’m sure Cole could see the benefits in joining the lillywhites. But, lets face it, we couldn’t offer him Champions League football anytime soon. The only real hope we’ve got of signing the winger is if Ancelotti gourges himself on midfielders in the next couple of weeks. It’s not impossible- Pirlo has been consistently linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and Ribery is a reported target.

 Fingers crossed then.

Elsewhere, and on a slightly less exciting note, Harry is apparently chasing the signature of Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong. Bassong is hardly a quality player and I just hoped that if he arrived, it would be on the cheap. You can imagine my utter shock when it emerged we’d bid £10 million for his “services”.

Don’t get me wrong, we need another centre back. But why are we so insistent on splashing out on relatively poor players. Surely it would be better to save the money, and instead make bids of £5 million for both Ryan Shawcross and Michael Turner. Turner is a solid performer and would provide good cover for either Dawson, King Ledley or Woody, whilst Shawcross is an extremely promising player. I’m pretty sure we could land either player and both are much better than Bassong. But Spurs being Spurs, Levy will probably rush out and offer Newcastle £15 million. Let’s just hope the rumours are true and Man City outbid us.

Another player who could be on his way to the Lane is Toulouse star Moussa Sissoko. The defensive midfielder could cost the club around £12 million-a lot of money for an unproven nineteen year old. Nevertheless, it seems Redknapp would be delighted to land the player.

I don’t really know much about Sissoko and £12 million looks a little steep. But hopefully, our interest in the youngster means Harry has given up on ex-Arsenal man Patrick Viera. What a lucky escape. Call me narrow minded, but I never saw the sense in bringing an old, washed up ex-goon to the club, when we have Sarge in his place. All we need now is for Viera to re-sign for Arsenal and have a shocker of a season. 

Klass Jan-Huntelaar’s name has popped up a couple of times in the gossip columns in recent days but I’d be very surprised if ‘Arry made a bid for the player. With the arrival of Crouchie our strike force looks set and I can’t see the club splashing out on yet another forward. 

And finally, it seems Darren Bent has passed his Sunderland medical and all but completed his much desired move to the club, a popular haunt of no longer wanted Spurs players (Tainio, Malbranque, Chimbonda…). In commemoration of the forward, I’m planning an article which features his best Tottenham games.

It will probably be the shortest thing I’ve ever wrote.