Reid speculation must end today

After enduring so much transfer speculation over the last year, Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid, it would seem, will know his next footballing destination some time today, with the English Premiership's January transfer window closing at midnight.

Whether that destination will be Tottenham or Southampton remains to be confirmed, with a rumoured third interested party, Everton, yet to enter the bidding fray. Reid, though, has his heart set on a move to Spurs, but the London club have yet to have a bid accepted by Forest.

Unless Spurs up their bid, estimated to be a "complicated" £2 million (i.e., with a string of staggered payments and clauses), the Dubliner will have to choose between remaining with Forest or joining Southampton, currently third from bottom of the Premiership.

Less than an hour after it was reported on Saturday that Reid would sign for Southampton, after Forest had agreed a deal with the club that would see them getting Brett Ormerod and Darren Kenton plus cash, in a deal estimated to be worth £3 million, Southampton manager Harry Redknapp was declaring that he was "one million per cent" certain that the player would not be moving to the south coast.

"I wish that I had signed Andy Reid," he said, "we have made an offer, but I think you'll find that he will go somewhere else. I'd love him to come here but I wouldn't bet on it. The chairman has pushed the boat out and done a deal with Forest, but I think Tottenham are in the background. If they want him we will struggle, I think he'll go there instead."

Responding to Redknapp's comments, Forest manager Gary Megson insisted that Reid had only two career options: either to join Southampton or stay with Forest.

Reid (22), was given a standing ovation by Forest supporters when he left the field in Saturday's FA Cup win over Peterborough at the City Ground, the assumption being it was his last appearance for the club he joined in 1998.

Stephen Carr, meanwhile, played his first game since mid-November for Newcastle on Saturday, lasting the full 90 minutes in their 3-1 FA Cup win over Coventry City.

Carr suffered knee ligament damage against Manchester United at St James's Park on November 14th, and Newcastle manager Graeme Souness had cast doubt over whether the right back would play again this season when he said he might need an operation on the injury.

Carr, though, came through training last week and was deemed fit enough to return to first team action.

Nick Colgan, understudy, along with Paddy Kenny, to Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, made his debut for Dundee United against Dundee on Saturday after joining the club on loan, until the end of the season, from Barnsley.