SPURS TALK: Tottenham to step up bids for targets (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

SPURS TALK: Tottenham to step up bids for targets

1:29pm Tuesday 29th July 2008 in Sport

TOTTENHAM will ease the blow of losing star striker Robbie Keane by intensifying their chase for David Bentley and Diego Milito, amongst others, reports claim.

The Daily Mail reports that Juande Ramos will look to secure the £9million signing of Milito from Real Zaragoza, while the Spamiard is expected to tie up a deal worth £13million for Rovers' winger Bentley.

The Russian duo of Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko are also still understood to be on Ramos' radar, and increased efforts to secure the pair could be forthcoming as the Spurs boss looks use some of the cash earned from Keane's £20million move to Liverpool.

Other names that have also been mentioned are Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso, who has recently spoke of willingness to move to Engloand.

Interest in Russia's Euro 2008 hero Arshavin appears to have cooled as the dimunitive midfielder effectively priced hismelf out of any move with his expansive £110,000 a week wage demands. But he may be forced to into a rethink if he wants to secure a move away from Zenit St Petersburg, although the club's £21million valuation is also a major stumbling block.

A £10million bid for Pavlyuchenko could still be on the cards, although Ramos may look to explore other alternatives before turning to the European Championships' joint-second top scorer.