The Tottenham striker Robbie Keane is in great demand since Harry Redknapp announced that he is free to leave White Hart Lane this month, and it was thought that Birmingham were the most likely side to take him after making an official offer of £7m.
But now that deal seems to have fallen through as Keane doesn’t want to move away from London, which has given the advantage to West Ham and Fulham, but both of them may not have the finances to bring in the 31 year-old.
Reports are saying that the Hammers are most willing to match Keane’s wages at Tottenham, but there is simply no way that they could drum up the full asking price and Avram Grant will probably have to ask for a loan period, or if he could pay in drawn-out instalments. Harry Redknapp has already said that he wants a straight sale: “If he wants to go, it’d have to be a permanent transfer. Robbie Keane would do a great job for somebody, but it’s got to be someone who buys him.”. This alone may rule West Ham out of the running.
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Mark Hughes has also admitted that he wants Keane to sharpen up the Fulham front line, and Al-Fayed has been known to invest a little if he believes that Hughes can keep the team in the Premiership, but Keane may need to accept a cut in wages to get his wish to stay in London.
Mark Hughes said today: “Although at times recently and in the past there has been a will to bring players here, on occasion we haven’t been able to do it due to the finances involved.
“Would Robbie being keen to stay in London help Fulham? Well that gives us a competitive advantage, I would suggest.
“Fulham is in a nice part of the world. That helps in acquisitions. There are clubs where it is more difficult to attract players to the area, but we don’t have that problem when we are based in London.”
Hughes would definitely be able to promise Keane the first-team football that he craves, but would he be willing to take a cut in wages to move to Craven Cottage?
