Palacios ponders Tottenham switch

(GETTY IMAGES)

Wilson Palacios' proposed move from Wigan to Tottenham may hinge on persuading the Honduras midfielder to move to London.

Spurs are thought to have agreed a fee of around £14m for the 24-year-old, who has been settled in the north-west and has a close support network in the area.

An increase in wages could be a factor, but Manchester City are also thought to be interested and Palacios could opt to wait until the summer before leaving the JJB Stadium.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wants to bolster his squad with quality in numbers, with his problems highlighted by Aaron Lennon, Vedran Corluka and Heurelho Gomes playing against Portsmouth at the weekend despite carrying knocks.

Skipper Ledley King and striker Roman Pavlyuchenko were forced off on Sunday but the good news for Redknapp is that neither injury is serious - King has a minor hamstring strain while Pavlyuchenko's ankle complaint should not prevent him being in contention to face Burnley in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

"Pulling out of a tackle is not in my style," said Pavlyuchenko in Russian newspaper Sport Express. "What English side would keep a player in the team who pulls out of tackles?"

Gomes aggravated a groin strain and is willing to play through the pain barrier and help Spurs climb away from relegation trouble while Redknapp searches for adequate back-up in goal.

"My message is believe in us because we have good players here and we know in many games we haven't played very well," said the Brazilian in the Evening Standard.

"Everyone has confidence in the dressing room. Who knows who can climb up the league, but we all have confidence in getting up the table."

Newcastle's Steve Harper has been suggested as a possible deputy to Gomes, with Redknapp's other priorities including a left-sided midfielder and another striker.

With Middlesbrough unwilling to sell Stewart Downing, Reading's Stephen Hunt has been linked with solving Spurs' problem on the left.

Redknapp, however, was pleased with David Bentley's performance on that flank after bringing him on as a substitute against Pompey.

The Spurs boss told Bentley to raise his game last week and was delighted with the response.

"I spoke to him last week and told him what I expect from him and what makes him a player," Redknapp said.

"He went out and did that. That was the David Bentley I knew at Blackburn and Arsenal as a kid - not the David Bentley I've seen here too much.

"I think the penny has dropped and we'll see a different David Bentley from now on."

In attack, Spurs have had a bid turned down for Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones.

Lyon striker Fred, who they have been linked with previously, is back on the market.

"He absolutely wants to go," said Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas. "I have replied to him... that effectively he could leave.

"Now he has to find a club who would really like to have him at this stage of the season."

Jermaine Jenas appears to be staying at White Hart Lane, with Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho pointing towards a fantasy football selection he made at the start of the season as a reason why he was linked with the midfielder.

"It seems to me that someone wants a player from Inter and seeing that they know I like another player, they've brought out this story," said the former Chelsea manager.