Copperface Keane Set To Leave Spurs AGAIN

TOTTENHAM are ready to offer club captain Robbie Keane as bait to land Aston Villa striker John Carew. Spurs will approach Villa and make it clear they are prepared to let Keane join them as part of a deal to net Carew.  Martin O’Neill will be told he can have Keane if he stumps up £5m plus Carew as Tottenham cut their losses on the Irish striker they signed for £12m from Liverpool a year ago.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has targeted the Villa star as one of the men he wants to aid a Champions League charge. They want to recoup as much of the £12m they paid Liverpool last year to bring back Keane. Spurs are also willing to use want-away David Bentley as part of a deal to sign Carew, 30.

O’Neill is a big fan of Keane and was linked with a move for the 29-year-old last summer. The Republic of Ireland top goal scorer’s future has been thrown into doubt over the last two months.  His first-team chances have been restricted due to the blossoming partnership between Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch. And Keane was close to losing the captaincy last month for his role in a players’ Christmas party in Dublin. Celtic and Sunderland have been linked with moves for the former Inter Milan star.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.