'The Octopus' Wants To Stay At Spurs A Long Time

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Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has claimed that he is not ready to quit Spurs in the transfer window next month, despite recent reports linking the Brazilian International with a move back to former club PSV Eindhoven in January.

27-year-old Gomes, who only arrived at White Hart Lane in the summer for £7.8million from Eredivisie Champions PSV, has had his future at the Premier League club called into question after a string of high-profile errors upon his arrival in the Premiership.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has been linked with a number of keepers in January, with Robert Green at West Ham United and Welsh International Wayne Hennessey at Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers just two of the keepers reportedly on the former Portsmouth bosses radar.

Gomes however, has kept clean sheets in his last 2 Premier League matches against West Ham and Manchester United, with the Brazilian pulling off vital saves in the dying minutes of both games to earn Spurs a win against the Hammers and a point against United.

Now Gomes has revealed that he is committed to Tottenham and intends to be at White Hart Lane for a long time, with the Brazilian known as ‘The Octopus’ also claiming he will get even better once fully fit.

“In my head I still think big and think I will play for Tottenham a long time,” said Gomes.

“I came here to play but it was very difficult for me because everyone said I’m a bad goalkeeper, not the goalkeeper to play for Tottenham.

“I still think about this and it was a difficult moment. I’ve come back step-by-step.

“I know I am a very good goalkeeper at the top level.

“It’s difficult for the opposition to score goals against me. I am confident now and I know I am better. But I’m not 100 per cent fit yet and the next games will get even better.”

Is Hennessey On His Way To Spurs?

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Last Monday and old friend of mine, who I have not seen for a while called me up and invited me for dinner on Tuesday. I was free so I went round and one of the first things I said to him, was that Spurs have been heavily linked with 21-year-old Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey as he is as passionate about the Midlands club as I am about Tottenham.

That’s why he had invited me you see, according to him Hennessey is coming to Spurs and a deal has been agreed for around £6million. Hennessey is fit, but has been on the bench of late, which has not made him a happy bunny, with Wolves manager Mick McCarthy preferring Carl Ikeme between the posts at the Molineux Stadium at the moment, although Hennessey did start against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, but only because Ikeme is injured and the only other keeper at Wolves is Shane Higgs, who is on loan from Cheltenham Town.

Now my friend although he lives in London goes to every Wolves game and has very good connections at the club. So I reported it as an exclusive on Premiershiplatest.com the next day, who I write for fulltime. After having the time to mull it over and coming to the conclusion that it added up. It’s no secret that Harry is in the market for a new keeper at White Hart Lane come January, maybe even two, given his reluctance to give Cesar a chance. Whether one keeper or two arrives, there will be a new goalkeeper at Tottenham in January.

So as the story grew on Wednesday I waited for a denial or confirmation to come from Wolves claiming that the Welsh International would not be joining Spurs or that he was on his way to Tottenham, but nothing. Does no denial mean that he is actually on his way to The Lane in January?

The Wolves forums that picked up on it were also not quick to shoot it down, in fact almost every comment posted believed that Hennessey would leave Wanderers and that £6million was about right for the keeper. They also picked up on what my friend had said to me. That McCarthy is a stubborn bugger and that he would have no qualms about leaving an unhappy player on the bench until he can sell him. After all he held his ground with Roy Keane many moons ago and strikes me as the type of guy, who once his mind is made up it wont be changed.

Well a few days have passed now and still no news if this is true or not, but the longer the silence continues the more l think Hennessey will be joining Spurs. So what do you think is the young keeper on his way? Is Hennessey coming as No1 or to provide healthy competition for Heurelho Gomes? Most importantly is he good enough for Tottenham?

My friend says he is an excellent keeper, with real potential, but like former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson tends to be stuck to his line on crosses, which was also the consensus from the Wolves fans. So perhaps Redknapp is getting him in so he can nick his sticky boots and make Gomes wear them.

The Jake Briggs column at TheProudCockerel.co.uk

Redknapp To Wheel & Deal In January?

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp, despite being at a bigger club since he left Portsmouth in October has revealed that Spurs will not be making any major signings, when the transfer window reopens in January.

Instead Redknapp has revealed that after a meeting with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy that he will be “happy” to bring in a couple of players on loan to the Premier League club in January.

Tottenham’s form under Redknapp has been good since his arrival from Pompey, with Redknapp, who has a ‘wheeler dealer’ reputation in the transfer market linked with a host of players from both England and abroad. Included in the players linked with a move to White Hart Lane next month are Welsh International goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey from Wolverhampton Wanderers along with winger Stewart Downing from Premiership rivals Middlesbrough and Argentine Fernando Cavenaghi from French club Bordeaux.

However, Redknapp has claimed there will not be lots of cash spent in January and that he will be content if he can bring in a couple of loan signings to the North London club.

Redknapp told the press: “I had a meeting with the chairman the other day and he said no-one would be spending fortunes. I don't want to spend fortunes anyway.

“If I can bring in some loans, I will be more than happy.”

Redknapp takes Spurs to face former club West Ham United on Monday night in the Premier League, with Redknapp having spent 15 years in total as a player and manager at Upton Park, but will put old friendships aside in a bid to secure all three points and steer Tottenham away from the wrong end of the Premiership.

Wales Boss Toshack Expects Hennessey Premier League Move In January

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Wales manager John Toshack has claimed that he would not be surprised if Welsh No1 Wayne Hennessey left Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers in January, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur leading the chase for the young goalkeeper.

Premiershiplatest.com revealed exclusively on Wednesday that there was already a deal in place to take 21-year-old Hennessey to White Hart Lane, with a source close to Wolves revealing that it was a “done deal” that Hennessey would be joining Spurs when the transfer window reopens.

“While officials at the club questioned McCarthy’s decision to drop Hennessey in favour of Ikeme,” A source close to Wolves told Premiershiplatest.com.

“McCarthy has taken the stance that he doesn’t want an unhappy player at Wolves and will leave him on the bench until he is sold in January.

“Talks have already taken place and a move to Spurs in January is a done deal at around £6million.”

Wolves, manager Mick McCarthy has dropped Hennessey from the side at the Molineux Stadium in favour of Carl Ikeme recently, with Toshack believing that if the keeper is not playing regularly then a January switch to a Premiership club looks very much on ther cards.

Toshack said: “Wayne has been outstanding for us and he is certainly up to Premier League standard.

"He has made good saves against Czech Republic, Germany and Russia and there's no doubt he is ready to go up to the highest level."

“I know Mick has used the other Wolves goalkeepers quite a bit and I know a few clubs are interested in Wayne.

“Maybe if he is not performing regularly, there could be a move for him in the pipeline."

Hennessey To Spurs Is A Done Deal

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Welsh International goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is set to leave Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a January move to Tottenham Hotspur for £6million already in place, according to a source close to the Midlands club.
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Spurs along with Premier League rivals Arsenal have been heavily linked with 21-year-old Hennessey in recent weeks. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is understood to be keen to bring Hennessey to the Emirates Stadium to provide competition for current No1 Manuel Almunia. While Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has been linked with a number of keeper’s since his arrival at White Hart Lane from Portsmouth, with the Spurs boss not convinced by summer signing Heurelho Gomes, who has made a string of high-profile errors in the Premiership since his £7.8million switch from PSV Eindhoven.

Hennessey, despite being named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year last season and already the established No1 for Wales has lost his place to Carl Ikeme in the Wolves team this season and is understood to have told manager Mick McCarthy that he will not stay at Wolves if he is to remain on the bench with Hennessey concerned that it will affect his position for Wales, which has come under threat from Hull City’s Boaz Myhill.

While McCarthy has publicly stated that Hennessey will remain at the Molineux Stadium. A source close to Wolves has told Premiershiplatest.com that talks have already taken place for Hennessey to make the switch to the North London club, with Spurs already agreeing terms with the player to take him to White Hart Lane for a fee in the region of £6million in January.

“While officials at the club questioned McCarthy’s decision to drop Hennessey in favour of Ikeme,” A source close to Wolves told Premiershiplatest.com.

“McCarthy has taken the stance that he doesn’t want an unhappy player at Wolves and will leave him on the bench until he is sold in January.

“Talks have already taken place and a move to Spurs in January is a done deal at around £6million.”

Spurs To Make £5million January Swoop For Hennessey?

Despite new Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp publicly backing under fire goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes earlier this week, Spurs continue to be linked with January moves for alternatives. The latest to be linked is Wolverhampton Wanderers keeper Wayne Hennessey, according to The Sun.

Tottenham have already been linked with Ben Foster at Manchester United, Robert Green at West Ham along with Shay Given at Newcastle United, who Redknapp has declared an interest in. Should the Republic of Ireland International become available.

Now the Sun claims that Spurs are lining up a £5million bid for Welsh International Hennessey, with the 21-year-old Wolves Player of the Year top of Redknapp’s list to replace summer signing from PSV Eindhoven Gomes.

Hennessey has been at Wolves since 2006 and has made 58 league appearances during his time at the Molineux Stadium. Hennessey has 15 caps for Wales and was named in the 2007/08 PFA Championship Team of the Year.

However, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will be reluctant to let Hennessey leave for White Hart Lane should Spurs come calling and with Wolves top of the Championship will tell Hennessey that he could realise any Premier League ambitions with Wolves.