The revolving door at the Lane keeps on turning and the next couple of days should see Dimitar Berbatov finally tie up his move to Manchester United, while Andrei Arshavin will become a Tottenahm Hotspur player.

What we posted on Sunday regarding the Corluka deal being completed and City being in turmoil is now the lead story in the tabloids today.

Although Hughes released a statement trying to cover the whole situation up yesterday, the full story has now been exposed.

Corluka doesn’t want to be at the sinking ship that is City and I’ll be surprised if he isn’t in a Spurs shirt by the weekend.

Corluka’s agent said: “Vedran is very unhappy with the events of the last few days. He still wants to go to Tottenham.

“He had a medical and agreed personal terms with them over the weekend.

“Vedran hopes the situation can be resolved soon so he can resume his career at Tottenham.”

You can’t blame Hughes for trying to put a lid on the situation in the hope that his club can sort themselves out and that he can continue in his job but as far as I’m concerned, that’s just wishful thinking on his part.

Only a few days till we start our season and it’s all still going on. Who needs Eastenders?!

Since Daniel Levy came to the club, it’s been rumoured that he’s looking to get Spurs into the Champions League then sell on his shares at a huge profit. Other stories suggest he’s a lifelong Tottenham fan with the club’s best interests at heart. Maybe he’s a bit of both.

He’s had his good and bad patches for me but if what is happening at other Premier League clubs is anything to go by, I hope Levy is around for the foreseeable future.

Man City, West Ham, Liverpool and Newcastle have all been in a mess since been taking over by their respective billionaires.

Thaksin Shinawatra is selling players behind Mark Hughes’ back because he has no money he can access due to his dodgy dealings.

Eggert Magnusson left West Ham as quickly as he arrived and although Björgólfur Guðmundsson is still at the club, they are stuck with a load of overpaid injury prone players that they can’t get rid of.

There have been nothing but problems at Newcastle since Mike Ashley arrived and it looks like he wants to get out asap.

Liverpool’s American duo went off to see if Jurgen Klinsmann was interested in having Rafa Benitez’ job not very long ago and they seem to struggle when it comes to giving Rafa the transfer funds he requires.

I might not agree with some of Levy’s actions, especially where Martin Jol was concerned and I think some of our work in the transfer market needs looking at but we are certainly in a more stable financial position than a lot of Premier League sides.

Keep it up Daniel!

Last night Vedran Corluka was a Spurs player, today he’s been forced back to Manchester by City boss Mark Hughes. Everything was tied up apart from his work permit and he was meant to be attending the Roma game today.

Things are never perfect where Spurs are concerned but I feel for Man City fans, the club seems an absolute shambles and Mark Hughes must be wondering what he’s doing there. The deal has been negotiated behind his back and it would not surprise me if he were to resign before long.

We have finally offloaded Younes Kaboul to Portsmouth for a reported £6m, good money I thought. This deal has been dragging on for ages I’m glad it’s finally sorted. If we can still get Corluka in we are getting a much better player for just £2m more which is great business.

I didn’t get to the game today but it was a cracking performance by all accounts. It may have only been a friendly but to put five past a team of Roma’s quality in any game is something special. Two goals for Bentley and another two for the on fire Darren Bent, Lennon got the other. I’ve got everything crossed that Bent can carry this form into the season proper.

Goals from the Roma game – http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6efb6_friendly-tottenham-hotspur-50-as-ro_sport

New site address
The site address is now www.whitehartpain.com, the old address will still work but please update your bookmarks.

I thought it would be interesting to get people’s thoughts on our starting eleven against Middlesbrough.

I know there could be a player or two brought in by then and possibly Berbatov could be gone but here’s what I fancy.

GK Gomes
LB Bale
RB Hutton (probably won’t be fit, maybe Zokora)
CB Woodgate
CB King (again, may not play this game, probably Dawson)
LM Lennon (Bale may play here and Ekotto at left back)
RM Bentley
CM Modric
CM Jenas
AM Giovani
CF Bent

I like the idea of Bent on his own up front in away games and Giovani playing in behind but I’m worried about the strength of that midfield away from home. I’m sure we can get away with those four at the Lane and hit teams fast and early like we always do but it just seems too lightweight for tough away games against lesser teams where they will get kicked all over the place.

I’d appreciate your thoughts, even if it’s to dig me out or reply anonymously saying I’ve made mistakes like some of you love to do (could be a few Arsenal fans in disguise but I like the banter!)

Changes to come…

I’ve registered the whitehartpain.com domain so the address will probably change in the next few days. I’ll let you know when it will happen and you should get re-directed if you go to the usual address anyway but just a heads up.

Hot on the heels of Sepp Blatter’s comments that Christiano Ronald is a ‘modern day slave’, football has another. Andrei Arshavin has decided to go on strike because his current club Zenit St Petersburg are pricing him out of a move to Tottenham.

Spurs have agreed personal terms with the player but they will not meet Zenit’s ridiculous asking price of over £20m.

Arshavin’s agent Dennis Lachter said;

“This is the Russian way.”

“Nothing will change because this is the old Soviet Union way. For the Russian sports establishment the desires of the player mean absolutely nothing.

“They are the big bosses. It is a dictatorship. He is a slave.”

I realise this is another ‘agent special’ but it does make me angry. I understand Arshavin and his agent are desperate to make the move happen but you cannot blame Zenit for trying to get the most money they can for their star player. Spurs have done the same with Carrick and Keane and are currently in a battle over Berbatov’s transfer fee with Man Utd.

I’m sure the deal will still go through but I’d have a lot more respect for Arshavin if he just got his head down and got on with training. Fair enough if he wants to let the press know the situation but don’t throw your toys out of the pram.

What happens if he has an amazing first season for Spurs, we finish in the top 4 but Real Madrid come knocking. Spurs don’t want to sell, does he go on strike again?

Did Arshavin not choose to play for Zenit St Petersburg? Did Ronald not choose to sign with Manchester Utd? Both players must have signed contracts to keep them at their respective clubs for a set period of time.

Some people need to look up the definition of the word slave…

Being a Spurs fan is amazing. I probably get more excited in the run up to the season than I do once the actual games get underway.

I have come to realise most of the copy I read where transfers are concerned is complete fiction but some of it still gives me a buzz….unless it’s regarding Dean Ashton and £15m from the THFC coffers.

Apart from our ‘bid’ for Dean Ashton, there have been a few little squeaks about Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

This is another player along with David Villa in the out of our reach zone but some of the noises I’ve been hearing make me think he’s a possibility.

Like Villa, he’s been linked with all the big boys but also like Villa, nothing has progressed.

The Hunter, as he is known, would cost in the region of £17m and would be a better proposition as far as I am concerned than Arshavin or Pavlyuchenko. (not mentioning Dean Ashton again!)

Huntelaar has refused to extend the two years currently left on his contract with Ajax, due to them wanting to include a £20m+ buy out clause and a move to the Premier League is believed to be his preferred option.

He was strongly linked with Manchester Utd last month but they seemed to turn their attentions to Berbatov. Arsenal were also mentioned but I’m not sure they would splash that much cash and his wages would probably be a stumbling block for them as well.

If we are serious about breaking the top four this season, we need a striker of this calibre, we need a Hunter!

There is a story flying about today about Martin Jol wanting to take Didier Zokora to Hamburg. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a total fabrication.

Jol didn’t even want him at Spurs, his transfer was all Comolli’s work, why the hell would he want him at Hamburg?!

I saw Zokora play in a friendly at White Hart Lane against Real Sociedad, must be two years ago now. At the time I was quite impressed. He looked composed on the ball and sprayed around some decent passes.

How my opinion changed as time went on! I was sick at the thought of us paying £8m for this joker. Wanted by Real, Utd and Arsenal but ends up at Spurs, hmmmm.

Eventually I would just hope his name was nowhere to be seen when the team was announced, that he’d pick up a suspension or injury, or best of all, someone would be stupid enough to buy him (what I wouldn’t have given for a Roy Keane in those days!).

Since Ramos has taken over, my opinion has shifted again. I still don’t rate him as a top player, but I’ve really grown to like the guy.

I thought he handled himself really well in the game at Anderlecht when he got some serious grief from their fans culminating in a lighter being launched at his head.

He was a make shift centre back in that game and played really well. Since then, he’s filled every position across the back and slotted into midfield when required.

Dare I say his displays in pre season so far have reminded me of the player I saw against Real Sociedad.

I also really appreciate his personality, he seems to rub off on the other players and must be a good guy to have in the dressing room. Have a look at the video I posted yesterday and you’ll see what I mean.

So hands off please Martin, although I realise your hands were probably nowhere near him anyway.

According to various report this morning, Tottenham are about to unveil the signing of Croatia International Vedran ?orluka.

Corluka was signed by Manchester City at the start of last season for around £8m. Apart from one bad mistake when Chelsea gave them a good hiding, he looked like a very solid player and was a key member of their side over the course of the season.

Mark Hughes either doesn’t fancy him or thought Spurs’ offer was too good to refuse. Either way, he’s expected to be a Tottenham player in the next day or so.

Hopefully this move will be good for Modric and also the fact Modric is there there will make it easy for Corluka to settle in.

We certainly needed more cover at the back so I’m more than happy with this signing.

In other news!
As we stated yesterday, Spurs are doing everything they can to secure David Villa’s signature. It comes as no surprise that it’s the Sun’s lead football story today as well as featuring in most of the other national press. Nothing in the way of quotes from anyone except those ‘sources’ they often refer to though so I’m still not convinced.

The big rumour doing the rounds today is that Spurs have become frustrated with the lack of progress in the chase for Andrei Arshavin and have turned their full attention to the capture of Valencia’s David Villa.

The longer it goes without a serious move for Villa from one of the big Champions League sides, the more chance Spurs have of securing his signature. With no other offers having been forthcoming, Tottenham officials have apparently gone back in for their No.1 target.

I personally still think he’s a bit out of our reach but the appeal of working with someone as highly thought of as Ramos is as a coach in Spain means we have a massive positive on our side.

I’d much we got Villa instead of Arshavin if it’s an either or situation, I’m sure most Spurs fans feel the same way.

As much as people want to knock Daniel Levy, me being one of them, you can’t argue with his ability to get his man. He wouldn’t take no for an answer where Ramos was concerned, lets hope he can be as successful in his attempt for David Villa.