Keane ready for move to Tottenham

The Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle will meet the Leeds United striker Robbie Keane today in an attempt to clinch an £8m deal before the Premiership transfer window shuts at the weekend.

Hoddle has agreed a price for the Republic of Ireland World Cup player, who shunned an approach from Sunderland yesterday as he headed for talks in London.

Keane has admitted that he is fed up with life on the bench at Elland Road and that desire has opened the door for the switch to White Hart Lane at the perfect time for all parties.

Despite scoring entrances as a substitute Keane feels he should be in a starting line-up, with his sale also helping Leeds raise more cash after a summer of selling.

Spurs have spent long and agonising months looking for the right forward. They have been consistently linked with Keane, but are now 24 hours from getting their man.

Keane was given the option of going to Tottenham or Sunderland, but the idea of moving to Wearside did not appeal to him. Spurs should be able to meet Keane's demands and complete the last part of the negotiations swiftly to seal one of the biggest deals of pre-deadline week.

Hoddle has tried and failed for half-a-dozen strikers. He had around £8m for a striker, but the fact that it is a Premiership deal means there is the chance that a Spurs player will have to leave soon to part-balance the books.

The Norwegian Steffen Iversen may be the one to leave as there have been no takers at the right money for Sergei Rebrov. Bolton and a Bundesliga outfit have been keeping an eye on Iversen.

Liverpool's official bid of around £10m to sign Damien Duff has been contemptuously rejected by the Blackburn Rovers manager, Graeme Souness. Souness revealed that the Liverpool manager, Gérard Houllier, had finally tabled an offer for Duff.

Souness criticised Liverpool, who visit Ewood Park tonight, for their behaviour in pursuit of the Irish left winger. Souness said: "Liverpool made a bid eventually after it appeared in the newspapers. It was nowhere near our valuation, not even halfway there.

"I think it took John Williams [the Blackburn chief executive] about 10 seconds to put something on the fax back to them. There had been talk of offers and offers, but there had not been an offer until last week. But we have an agreement with Damien and we hope he will sign the contract before or immediately after the game with Liverpool. It's taken a long time to get where we are, but I am happy."

Both clubs were involved in deadline transfer activity with Galatasaray. Liverpool have given the Turkish side permission to discuss terms with their out-of-favour striker Jari Litmanen.

Meanwhile, the Turkish defender Hakan Unsal is to return to his former club Galatasaray after a short spell with Blackburn. It is understood that Blackburn have recovered the £650,000 they paid for the World Cup player.

The Italian defender Moreno Torricelli is continuing his search for a club in England. Torricelli, a free agent following Fiorentina's demotion, played in a trial in front of Souness, but failed to impress. Torricelli trained with Everton yesterday.

Stoke City are bracing themselves for a bid for Kris Commons – with five Premiership clubs already in pursuit of him following his debut goal against Norwich.

Bolton's Colin Hendry has turned down a loan move to First Division Reading.