SOCCER NEWS ROUND-UP:TOTTENHAM MANAGER Harry Redknapp admits Ruud van Nistelrooy's wages mean the Real Madrid striker is unlikely to arrive at White Hart Lane.
German club Hamburg have joined the race to sign the 33-year-old Netherlands international, with West Ham United and Stoke City also interested in the former Manchester United player.
Moving to the Bundesliga may lead to a lower salary than Van Nistelrooy would demand if he joined a Premier League club, with a potential €114,000 per week a huge stumbling block for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
“We don’t pay that type of wages here,” Redknapp said. “Daniel, the chairman here, runs a good business and wouldn’t be paying that sort of money.
“It would break our wage structure by an awful long way. He’s probably worth it and is probably earning an awful lot more at Real Madrid. He’s been a great player and could still be that for someone.
“It’s a gamble because he has been injured. A fit Ruud van Nistelrooy is world-class but it’s a gamble as to whether he’s fit.
“If you have him for 18 months and he’s not fit it’s a big problem to have a massive wage on your bill.”
Van Nistelrooy was linked to West Ham after David Sullivan claimed he has offered a “special player” a €114,000-a-week contract to move to join the club.
“We’ve offered £100,000-a-week to a player today and we are still not sure we are going to get him. That was a very special player.
“There’s no transfer fee involved and he’s got the choice of almost every club in Europe. He has played at the highest level.
“He’s down to three clubs and West Ham are the only English club still in the hunt for him. Whether we get him is another thing.”
Portsmouth boss Avram Grant cancelled his weekly pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup tie with Sunderland today as the club’s off-the-field crisis intensified this week.
The Israeli was due to stage his weekly conference at the club’s Eastleigh training base at 1.30pm on Friday, but director of communications Gary Double said “Avram just didn’t want to do it.” He added: “He said there is nothing more to add and he has spoken about everything.
“He knows the questions are all going to be about off-the-field stuff.”
Grant is clearly growing increasingly frustrated with being asked the same questions about the club’s financial woes.
Former Hull chairman Paul Duffen yesterday denied allegations over his running of the club as it began legal action against him.
An order freezing Duffen’s assets made last Friday was lifted and substituted with an order to value and place a charge on a property.
Duffen also agreed to hand over computer files.
A date for the trial of the issues has not been fixed.
Hull allege Duffen used money for his own personal use and his company received payments from agents in return for using those agents to deal with transfers.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has launched an angry broadside at Liverpool over their pursuit of Kenwyne Jones.
Birmingham have agreed a €3.4 million fee with Aston Villa for midfielder Craig Gardner.
The 23-year-old boyhood Birmingham fan will move to St Andrew’s subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms, the club confirmed on their website yesterday.
Gardner came through the ranks at Villa Park and made 79 appearances for the club but has found his first-team opportunities limited of late.
