Spurs Leading Boro, Everton, Bolton, West Ham & Sunderland For Bullard?

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly leading the chase for Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard, with a host of other Premier League clubs interested in the former Wigan Athletic player. Bolton Wanderers, Middlesbrough, Everton, Sunderland and West Ham United have also been linked with Bullard recently.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is said to be a big fan of the all-action midfielder, having seen Bullard close-up as a youngster, when Redknapp was in charge at West Ham. However, 29-year-old Bullard did not play a single senior game for the Hammers between 1999-2001 and made the switch to Peterborough United before joining the Latics in 2003 and then arriving at Craven Cottage in 2006.

After his arrival at the Cottagers, Bullard had to sit out most of his first season with the Cottagers due to a dislocated kneecap, which ruled him out for nine months. His return to the side towards the end of last season saw Fulham manage to avoid relegation on the last day of the campaign, with many thinking Roy Hodgson’s side were dead and buried weeks before.

Now a source close to Redknapp has claimed that the former Portsmouth manager is to make a move to bring Bullard to White Hart Lane in January. It is believed that Bullard is ready to quit Fulham in order to progress his career, with no shortage of suitors in the Premiership for the midfielder, who is valued at around £4million.

A source close to Redknapp told the News of the World: “Harry is an admirer of the boy and I’m sure will try to get him in January given the circumstances surrounding him.

“If the boy is ready to leave Fulham then Harry would have to be interested.”

Spurs To Fight It Out With Bolton For £8million Richardson?

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Sunderland winger Kieran Richardson is a January transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, with Bolton Wanderers also keen on the England International, according to The Mirror.

24-year-old Richardson was persuaded to join the Black Cats by former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane, when the Irishman took Sunderland into the Premier League in 2007. However, with Keane walking out of the Stadium of Light earlier in December, Richardson has reportedly become unsettled at the Premiership club and is looking for a move away from the North East.

Redknapp, who is also understood to be close to a deal for Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing is believed to be ready to offer Sunderland £8million for Richardson in January, but will face competition from Trotters manager Gary Megson, who also wants Richardson at the Reebok Stadium.

Spurs have identified the left side of midfield as an area that needs strengthening next month, with Aaron Lennon filling the void for Redknapp in recent weeks. While it is believed that Downing is the main target for Tottenham, Redknapp is considering Richardson as an alternative, with Boro manager Gareth Southgate wanting Gareth Bale as part of any deal to allow £15million rated Downing to leave the Riverside Stadium.

Tottenham are reluctant to let Welsh International Bale leave White Hart Lane, which has led them to Richardson, but with Bolton also interested it remains to be seen whether the winger opts for Spurs or Wanderers or decides to stay put at Sunderland in January.

Liverpool Boss Benitez: "Torres Has To Improve"

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has told his Reds squad that everyone including Spanish International Fernando Torres will have to compete for a place in the first team at the Merseyside club.

The former Valencia coach has been playing a more settled team of late in the Premier League, with Benitez seeming to have ditched the rotation policy the Spaniard had become renowned for. This reluctance to change a winning side resulted in Benitez only giving EURO 2008 Winner Torres a place on the bench in their 2-0 win in the Premiership against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Although last seasons top-scorer for Liverpool Torres came on as a second half substitute against the Trotters, Benitez insists that the former Atletico Madrid striker has to improve and compete like everyone else for a place in the Anfield side.

“The players have to compete for their positions in the side, be it Torres or anyone else,” Benitez said.

“Torres has to improve, if he does and he is fit then I will decide what to do, although I expect to be criticised.

“I did not have to explain to Fernando why he was not playing, it was very clear. The team had been playing well and he has to compete for his position.

“He played well when he came on, but then other players who come on as substitute also did well, not just him.

“That is the key if you want to have a winning mentality and a winning squad."

Torres, who has just returned from injury for Liverpool has been called up by Spain for their International friendly against Chile on Wednesday, but Benitez had bemoaned the Spanish call-up for Torres, who is lacking match fitness and revealed that he has asked the Spanish coaching staff not to take any chances with his talisman.

“Torres will join up with Spain. I am not happy, but I cannot do anything about it. We are talking to international managers and asking them to protect our players,” he added.

“We have asked that the Spanish set-up does not take any chances, that they protect the player.”

Benitez Urges Liverpool To Show Passion & Character Against Bolton

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is pleased to have a Premier League clash so soon to put right the “disappointing game” against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Wednesday in the Carling Cup, which the Reds lost 4-2.

Benitez rested several key players against Tottenham, with Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Jamie Carragher and keeper Pepe Reina just some of the star names missing from the Liverpool team-sheet on Wednesday, although Spanish International Fernando Torres did make his comeback from a hamstring injury.

However, Benitez, while disappointed with the loss to Spurs has insisted that the Premiership remains the most “important competition” for the Merseyside club this season and has called on his Anfield side to show the character and passion in their league encounter with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

“After a disappointing game it is good to have another fixture so quickly and that is what is happening now," said Benitez.

“We have got to show the character that we have shown in the past and respond to defeat in the right way.

“That is the most important thing.

“We have enough quality in our squad, so if we show the right character and passion we will be okay.

“Everyone will be really focused because this is the league and we know this is the most important competition for us.”

Man United Set To Beat Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Bolton & West Brom To £5million Delph?

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Manchester United are set to land teenage sensation Fabian Delph from Leeds United, with the Premier League Champions claimed to have beaten off Arsenal for the signature of the youngster, who has also attracted interest from West Bromwich Albion, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Chelsea.

Recent reports have suggested that Delph was to leave Elland Road for the Emirates Stadium in January, with the Gunners to loan the midfielder back to the Yorkshire side until the end of the season.

However, an insider at the Red Devils has claimed that Delph will be arriving at Old Trafford in January in a deal worth around £5million, with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson moving quickly to land the left-sided player after losing out to Arsenal on Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey.

A United insider said: “It’s as certain as it gets that Fabian will be a Red in January. It’s a done deal.”

18-year-old Delph has been at Leeds since 2001 and has scored 3 goals in 16 league appearances for the Whites, with the midfielder also being capped by England at Under-19 level this year.