Soccer Shorts: Tottenham's unhappy striker Robbie Keane has played down suggestions he could quit the club after being fined for storming down the tunnel against Birmingham on Saturday.
A club spokesman has confirmed that Keane has been handed a fine of around £10,000 for his display of petulance when coach Martin Jol opted to introduce Egyptian striker Mido as a second-half substitute.
The bust-up sparked suggestions the Republic of Ireland striker would quit the club in the summer after becoming frustrated at having to sit on the bench behind first-choice strikers Fredi Kanoute and England international Jermain Defoe.
Clearly Jol and the club's sporting director Frank Arnesen were unhappy with Keane's reaction at St Andrews but both insist there is no way Keane will be allowed to leave, despite interest from Premiership rivals Everton.
Keane, for the moment, continues to see his future in north London and is looking to return to the team in the near future.
"Hopefully I will be playing and scoring goals and we will see how far we get. You have just got to get on with it. You cannot moan about it," said the Dubliner.
But despite his comments, Keane's advisors will be anxious to move their client on if he is not restored to the first team before the end of the season.
There will be no shortage of takers for Keane should Spurs decide to let him leave.
Chelsea buy time
Chelsea appear ready to challenge the depth of Jose Mourinho's dissatisfaction with the club's hierarchy by reportedly offering to up his pay by £1million a year.
Mourinho is unhappy with the level of support he received from Chelsea following his Uefa touchline ban according to assistant Baltemar Brito.
However, his agent, Jorge Mendes, has revealed that Chelsea have thrown a £5.2million-a-year three-year extension on to the table after club owner Roman Abramovich flew to London to join the contract talks.
Mendes told the London Evening Standard: "The negotiations are going well and nearing an end. It will be concluded very soon, maybe even on Thursday."
The offer of a new contract had been planned for the summer but the Uefa controversy, has prompted more urgent action.
Viduka hamstrung
Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka has been told to prepare himself for the start of next season after being ruled of the current campaign with a hamstring injury.
The 29-year-old Australia international lasted just 11 minutes of his comeback game at Crystal Palace last Saturday after 17 matches on the sidelines with hamstring and back injuries, and scans since have revealed a recurrence of the hamstring problem.
Viduka, who has started just 18 games and played two more as a substitute since his £4.5million move from Leeds to the Riverside Stadium last summer, will not figure again this season. "Mark has suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem," said Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren. "It is hugely disappointing for Mark and the club, but he will not play again this season. We felt he was ready to play on Saturday, but it was not to be."
Monaco move tie
Monaco have postponed Sunday's Ligue 1 match against Lille as a mark of respect following the death of the principality's Prince Rainier III.
In a statement on their website, the club said the game had been provisionally rescheduled for Friday, April 29th, depending on the agreement of the French league. Monaco are fourth in the Ligue 1 standings, two places below Lille.
Perrin for Pompey
French coach Alain Perrin has been called in to rescue Portsmouth from relegation after their alarming recent slump down the Premiership table.
The former Marseille boss is expected to arrive at Fratton Park today to sign a two-year deal as new team manager - with the club also trying to land David Pleat as a consultant. Perrin has no experience of English football, although he was linked to a move to Southampton last season.
