Agent has no doubts over Del Horno's Chelsea move

Chelsea and the left-back has been an interesting tale full of drama since Graeme Le Saux returned from his spell at Blackburn Rovers. His second stint at Stamford Bridge ended two summers ago when he was swapped for Wayne Bridge, of Southampton.

Bridge at the Bridge always seemed too simple a solution to the question of replacing a complex individual like Le Saux and so it proved. Bridge has had little luck with injuries and found himself ursurped in the left-back role by the versatile William Gallas, who moved across from centre-back.

The next chapter in the saga turned into the Ashley Cole tapping-up case, with Chelsea and the Arsenal full-back both found guilty by the Football Association of involvement in an illegal approach to a player under contract with another club.

The chance of Cole making the trip across London is looking slim but now there are apparently two candidates for the lucrative role in Jose Mourinho's Roman Abramovich-financed side - Asier del Horno and Kakha Kaladze.

Athletic Bilbao's £11 million Del Horno is a shoo-in, so his agent says. "Asier's transfer will be done without a shred of a doubt," Jokin Barcena was quoted as saying in the Spanish sports newspaper Marca. "The English club have told me that there's no danger that it will not be done," he added, playing down the significance of a delay in the negotiations, Chelsea's apparent interest in Milan's Kaladze and the fact that Gallas is still considered to be an important member of Chelsea's squad.

Whatever the outcome the Chelsea gravy train for agents may soon hit the buffers. Not that their Russian billionaire backer is about to disappear, but he let it be known that once established as a force the Premiership champions would be expected to stand on their own feet as a club. Hence, Chelsea's involvement in "Tapping-up - the sequel" after their move to install Frank Arnesen, Tottenham Hotspur's sporting director, as their director of youth development. Why buy a £20m-plus superstar when you can grow your own?

The Dane's departure from White Hart Lane, once compensation has been agreed, could hamper Spurs' progress after a season in which, under the twin guidance of Arnesen and head coach Martin Jol, they showed signs of progress. They just missed out on a place in the Uefa Cup through both the Premiership and the Fair Play League, so for another year at least Spurs fans will have to continue to watch those videos filed away under "All Our Yesterdays".

There is no escape for them from reminders of the club's past. Even the Queen's Birthday Honours list contained one with the man known to many as Sir Les taking a step towards having that as an official title by being made an MBE.

To rub things in, another old boy, Teddy Sheringham, has signed for another year with promoted West Ham United. At least Tottenham's glory years are more recent than the Teddy Boy phenomenon.