Everton angry as Spurs snatch defensive duo

By Sam Wallace

Friday, 17 July 2009

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Tottenham Hotspur have beaten Everton to the signing of both Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker from Sheffield United. The two right-backs will join Spurs this month in a deal worth a total of £8m, despite Naughton having been a long-term target for David Moyes.

The two players represent Harry Redknapp's first major success in the transfer market this summer – he is also pursuing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Patrick Vieira – but the deal has left Everton angry. The club had been given permission by Sheffield United to agree personal terms with Naughton, 20, but that was withdrawn when Spurs offered a lump sum for both players and they have offered the option of loaning Walker, 19, back to Sheffield United for next season.

There have been raised eyebrows in the game as to why Tottenham would need two right-backs when they already have the Wales international Chris Gunter at the club. Gunter, a promising 19-year-old who was bought from Cardiff City in January last year, is now expected to join Nottingham Forest, where he impressed on loan last season.

Spurs believe the decision to sign both is justified because Naughton can play at left-back, but in reality he was only deployed there last season because of injuries at Sheffield United. He is expected to figure prominently in the first-team squad next season as Alan Hutton and Pascal Chimbonda will both leave if deals can be done.

Spurs are confident that there is no interest in Huntelaar from Arsenal, whose priority is Marouane Chamakh at Bordeaux. Huntelaar, who joined Real Madrid for £19m in January, is available but Spurs will have to put together a competitive pay package as they are in competition with Stuttgart, who are in the Champions League next season. Spurs are still waiting to learn whether Internazionale will allow Vieira to leave on a free transfer.

Comments

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Crazy

nick78447 wrote:

Friday, 17 July 2009 at 12:02 am (UTC)

Naughton would be SO much better off by moving to Everton. It would seem that the 19 year old has been very badly advised by the greedy agents who must surround him. He'll get Carling Cup games at Spurs, and if he doesn't look the business he'll be bombed out and frozen out by 'Arry.

Alan Hutton, Chimbonda, Bale, Gunter... How much did that little lot cost? And none of them can get a game.

The fact is that Everton agreed a fee and were given permission to talk with the player last Friday. Spurs came crashing in waving wads of cash and suddenly that permission was withdrawn.

Previously I'd felt a certain amount of sympathy for Sheffield United and the way they were treated in the Tevez affair... they insisted that they had been "unethically" and you could hardly argue.

But then they behave like this and it makes you (okay, me) hope they continue to rot in the second division.

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Bad choice

whoamishanghai wrote:

Friday, 17 July 2009 at 05:25 am (UTC)

I am a Spurs fan, but I have to agree with Nick78447. These two would have been better off at Everton. Whilst I love my club, we've become a joke. Our bid to buy our way into the top four over the past 5 years has resulted in countless crap deals and wasted millions. I respect Harry and believe that with support and finances he can build a good team, but it is obvious that now that he has finally got a chance with a bigger club he has lost his wheeler dealer abilities and tries to buy overpriced junk.

Everton on the other hand are a perfect model for all other clubs to follow. Moyes in an exceptionally talented manager and I wish them the best of luck this season. Now, if only Levy could understand...

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Shame

footykingz wrote:

Friday, 17 July 2009 at 06:27 am (UTC)

Shame for the lad that he ended up at Spurs given he wanted to go to Everton and remain in the north.
Forced to by Sheff U because of Spurs flashing the cash.
Its very embarassing for all parties involved. Man City will probably bid for him now.

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dasq1 wrote:

Friday, 17 July 2009 at 07:58 am (UTC)

I am a Spurs fan and am just pleased we have finally signed people who can still play. All these speculations about Van Nistlerooy and Viera, at least these 2 aren't going to keel over in the first 10 minutes of their debut due to exhaustion. We have seen on many occaisons foreign players leave the premier league but not many come back, and for good reason. It's too fast and physical for them to keep up like they used to. They like to 'retire' to the sleepier, more tactical game of the likes of the Italian league or get tempted by big money from random countries like Qatar, UAE and Australia (they still call it Soccer)

Our 'Arry is a proven wheeler and dealer and I hope these 2 will do the job he has bought them for, when have you know him to make a knee jurk reaction? This has been considered. As other sources have it that Gunther has already gone to Nottingham Forrest and that there are a number of clubs looking at Bale and the supposed return to Scotland for Hutton, 'Arry is hedging his bets and being very shrewd in my eyes. Could you imagine what people would be writting if he missed out on these 2 and we started the season with just Chimbonda? "What's that coming over the hill, it's relagation, it's relagation!"

This is the first of many purchases this summer I hope, Negredo sounds lie a good prospect as is swapping Bent for Jones @ Sunderland. I just hope we keep hold of the like of Jenus and big Tom, I know Modric and Palacios are great but we need depth in the mid field.

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Harrys Knee Jerks

sk26 wrote:

Friday, 17 July 2009 at 08:22 am (UTC)

In reply to dasq1, not having a dig cos you sound like a stirling fella and a top spurs fan, but I think most of our signings in Jan were knee jerks by Harry, obv exception is Palacios, but paying good money to bring back Keane when we had tucked Lpool up to the tune of 21mil was a little bit silly as it would appear his better years have come and gone and also spending more hard earned on chimbo, when we have charlie, hutton (albeit injured at the time) and gunter. It prob cost us about 18mil combined to have these players back for 6 months, and how much contribution did they realy make?

Hopefully your insight is right and this is the begining of an excersise to realease some dead wood.

COYS

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Re: Harrys Knee Jerks (and head and hand and fingers...)

dasq1 wrote:

Friday, 17 July 2009 at 08:46 am (UTC)

sk26, you have some made good points but at the same time Corluka is as good as Chimbo as far as I am concerned and be gone asap. Gunter was and still is not a proven premiership player and 'Arry likes to have them (hence the age of the Portsmouth squad!) and I agree with his decision not to play him. As for Keane coming back, that was Levy realising he had made a massive mistake with letting Ramos sell him and making 6mil profit in 6 months, bargains!!!! In hind site if we would have been left with Bent and Pav up front and little Beni at right back with Gunther at left back (Corlucka filling in for either Woodie or Ledley) we'd be in the same boat as Newcaslte and wearing a strippy yellow away shirt.

YIDS!!!!!!

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Right Back Obsessed

b_right_on wrote:

Friday, 17 July 2009 at 04:20 pm (UTC)

We already have 4 right backs. Corluka, Chimbonda, Hutton and Gunter. What's the obsession with right backs Harry?!

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Re: Right Back Obsessed

stooge101 wrote:

Friday, 17 July 2009 at 07:30 pm (UTC)

I appreciate what you're saying b_right_on, but Gunter has now gone to Forest, Corluka, in my opinion, is a better CB than RB but has the ability to play both, Chimbonda has to go ( the epitomy of dead wood), leaving just Hutton. A good player, but as someone said earlier, possibly back off to Scotland.

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Naughton goes to Spurs

evertonoshea wrote:

Thursday, 23 July 2009 at 04:21 am (UTC)

This will be another David Nugent who Harry got from Preston to Portsmouth and the guys career has gone down hill since. Moyes is a great manager who can develop player to be great players. With Hibbett under pressure last year, Naughton would have fitted in perfect, it is a real pity.

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