Spurs may bid for Given

Tottenham are ready to take advantage of the crisis at Newcastle by launching a bid for Shay Given.

The Newcastle goalkeeper is unhappy at the constant turmoil on Tyneside and is ready to make a move when the transfer window opens.

Toon owner Mike Ashley wants to cash in on his top stars before he sells the club and knows Given is one of the club's most highly prized assets.

And new Spurs boss Redknapp has confirmed he would be interested in the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper if he becomes available.

Redknapp said: "Shay Given is a great goalkeeper who I admire. Any manager would have to be interested in him if he became available." Sources close to Given - who would command a £7 million fee - insist he is ready to leave Tyneside in the New Year in an attempt to join a successful club.

A close friend of Given said: "Shay is widely regarded as one, if not the best, goalkeeper in the Premier League.

"Yet he has nothing to show for his ability as he has not won a major trophy in his entire career.

"He has always stated he is happy at Newcastle but the simple fact of the matter is he wants to win things. Although it will hurt him to do so, he is ready to leave Newcastle to achieve that.

"And he would be more than happy to go to a club like Tottenham where the cluyb's potential under Harry is clearly enormous." Redknapp knows he needs to find a replacement for error prone Heurelho Gomes if he is to bring the sort of success he wants to White Hart Lane.

Will Shay Given become a Spurs player in the January transfer window?