Keane positive about quartet

SOCCER NEWS:ROY KEANE is optimistic his bulk-buying strategy will pay dividends and that four Tottenham players will join Sunderland.

Spurs last week accepted a €29 million bid for Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda, Younes Kaboul and Teemu Tainio and the Sunderland manager spoke with them individually at the weekend.

"If anything is going to hold things up now it is a few loose ends between Spurs and the players," said Keane, who also covets Tottenham's Darren Bent.

"I was impressed with the four when I met them and I hope I made a positive impression on them. I enjoyed having the opportunity to speak to them and I think they were made some very good offers."

Although Kaboul's agent had said the defender would not join Sunderland "even if there was an earthquake", the money on offer at the Stadium of Light appears to have prompted a rethink. Even so, the mooted transfers are vulnerable to hijacks and Chimbonda, despite speaking of Keane in glowing terms, remains much admired by Everton and Newcastle United.

Should Tainio, a defensive midfielder, move to Wearside, the way could be cleared for Dean Whitehead to depart for Stoke.

Keane was banished to the stands for the last 10 minutes of Sunderland's 3-1 win at Sporting Lisbon on Sunday after disputing Michael Chopra's dismissal for a late challenge, which he will take to appeal.

Alex Ferguson yesterday warned Cristiano Ronaldo that leaving for Real Madrid would be the "worst thing" possible for his career.

The 23-year-old Portuguese has made no secret of his desire to leave Manchester United for Madrid and reacted with another noncommittal statement about his future at the weekend, responding to Ferguson's assertion he would not be leaving the club by suggesting that "only God knows" where he will play next season.

Ferguson, speaking before United's friendly against Orlando Pirates at the Absa Stadium tonight, appeared to have progressed from exasperation to indifference when asked about the future of the winger, who will be sidelined until October after ankle surgery.

"If you were asked for advice for your son you would give him the best advice, and the worst thing Ronaldo could do, at the age of 23, is to go to Real Madrid," he said. "He is already at the right club - a fantastic football club - and the future is he has signed a five-year contract and has four years left. That's definite because I have seen his signature.

"In the modern day young lads can be twisted by the talk of money, but if you saw Ronaldo after the Champions League final he was the happiest boy in the world. When you have young players you want the best for them and you want to do the best for them, and I genuinely believe I know what the best club in the world is for him and that is Manchester United. There shouldn't be any need to go to Real Madrid."

Ronaldo's refusal to accept United's stance has eroded his standing among the club's supporters, who are split on whether he should be sold or retained. But a majority are keen to see Ferguson emerge as the victor, if only to ensure Ronaldo must wait a year longer to achieve his ambition of playing for Real.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have given the Premier League a dossier of evidence dating back to last year to back up their complaint against United's pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov. Spurs have also been angered by Liverpool's pursuit of Robbie Keane, and the two clubs will respond in writing to the complaints before the league decides whether they must face a charge.

Ferguson insisted there was "no news" on Berbatov but admitted that adding to his squad had been proving difficult.

"We did a lot of stocking up last summer, buying four players of good ages as part of a policy of bringing in footballers who could develop, and we think there is further progress there," said the manager. "I had 23 players in Moscow and they will still be there for this season because we are happy with the squad. It is difficult for us to buy and improve on that because we know why clubs don't want to sell their best players and we don't either."

Newcastle's austerity drive is making it harder for Kevin Keegan to augment his squad but they are thought to be pondering a bid for Jose Antonio Reyes, the former Arsenal forward now at Atletico Madrid, where he has fallen out of favour.

Blackburn Rovers are resigned to losing David Bentley but chairman John Williams says the England international will not be allowed to leave unless the club's asking price is met.

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have failed with bids for Bentley, with Blackburn believed to be seeking around €23 million for the former Arsenal player who has three years remaining on his contract.

"We have received two bids but neither has come anywhere close to our valuation which is based in line with how we see the market," said Williams. "We don't want to lose David but, if we do get a bid that meets our valuation, then ultimately it comes down to a football decision by Paul Ince [ the manager]."

Villa, meanwhile, are expected to face competition in their pursuit of Valencia's Serbian striker Nikola Zigic after it emerged that another Premier League side had expressed serious interest in the player. The 6ft 7in forward, who was previously on Newcastle's radar, is considering an offer from Villa, according to Valencia's sporting director, Juan Sanchez. Zigic has struggled in La Liga but was a prolific goalscorer during his time with Red Star Belgrade.

Guardian Service