Time Up For Robbie At Spurs?

BACK OF THE NET: Robbie Keane fires Spurs in front aganst Sporting Lisbon in Harrison, New Jersey, on Sunday. It was his second goal of Tottenham's tour of America and it seems as if Robbie is as good as ever in front of goal. Even so he could be on his way from Spurs. / Getty Images

Celtic and Aston Villa were put on alert on Sunday after Harry Redknapp openly admitted that Robbie Keane might have to leave Tottenham to kick-start his career.

Robbie netted twice for Tottenham on their American tour, the latest coming in Sunday's 2-1 draw with Sporting Lisbon in Harrison, New Jersey, and the Spurs boss has been full of praise after Keane's impressive showing in pre-season training.

But with the Dubliner seeking a regular starting place at the Lane, Redknapp knows that Keane won't want to stick around if that cannot be provided to him.

“Robbie is a fantastic professional, who trains hard and wants to play,' said the Spurs manager. 'I still think he has a lot to offer. The thing is he wants to play all the time.

“There is every chance he could start the season, but if it doesn't work out then I am sure he will be the first one to come and tell me that he needs to play somewhere.'

And the validity of Redknapp's comments are evidenced by his actions in the transfer market. Redknapp is facing a battle to get his top transfer target Craig Bellamy. The White Hart Lane supermo is targeting the 31-year-old Manchester City striker for a summer move to north London, but Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is wary of making a big-money move for an aging player with a patchy injury record.

That prompted Spurs to enquire whether they could strike a loan deal for the Welsh firebrand who moved to City for Stg14m 18 months ago.

Spurs are also watching developments with Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips to see whether he becomes available as he has been loggerheads over a new contract.

Meanwhile Neil Lennon has always made his appreciation known for Ireland's record goalscorer and would like Keane back at Parkhead, but a lack of funds will likely put paid to those notions. Aston Villa on the other hand are mulling a move for the 30-year-old and could sign Keane to partner Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor if James Milner secures a transfer away from the club.

Murphy Off To Flyer At Celtic

It took just over half an hour for Daryl Murphy to open his account with Celtic, the big Waterford man showing that he could well be one of the signings of the season for the Parkhead club with a goal and an all round fine display in the Bhoys 4-1 pre-season victory over Lincoln on Saturday.

All the outward signs are that Murphy is a perfect fit for the Parkhead club and the Republic of Ireland front man led the line admirably in their latest victory.

Indeed the Lincoln manager was taken by the Irishman's performance and commented:

“Murphy has a touch of the Suttons about him. Big and strong, with deceptively skilful feet, the ex-Sunderland striker impressed the Lincoln manager: "He's not a striker that will run away from you, he's clever with his movement and his hold up play is decent, so it will be interesting to see how he is used.

Torres Set To Quit Anfield

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson admits he is running out of options in his bid to keep Fernando Torres at Anfield.

The new Reds boss is hoping Torres will follow captain Steven Gerrard's example and publicly commit himself to the club but he concedes the player has misgivings.

Hodgson, who briefly met with the Spain international for the first time last week, insists Torres' apparent reluctance to commit himself to another season with Liverpool pre-dates his time at the club.

"Unfortunately, I cannot do much more," Hodgson admitted in quotes reported by the News of the World.

"His beef is with the club and not me.

"Fernando's situation has nothing to do with me, he made that perfectly clear over the phone during the World Cup and when I met him face-to-face.

Hodgson continued: "He knows what I would like to do with the club. He knows how much I value him. But his issues are with what has gone on in the past rather than the future. If he has problems with the club for things in the past, it is difficult for me to dismiss that."

Celtic fans will see a better version of Scott McDonald when Gary Hooper arrives from Scunthorpe, according to his Iron team-mate Michael O'Connor.

Many believe that letting the prolific McDonald move to Middlesbrough in the January transfer window was one of Tony Mowbray's biggest mistakes during his ill-fated tenure as Hoops boss.

Mowbray's successor, Neil Lennon, has set about refurbishing the Celtic squad this summer with some zeal having already signed five new players.

The Parkhead boss has now revealed that Hooper - appropriately nicknamed Hoops - and Israel midfielder Biram Kayal are next in line, with England goalkeeper David James due in Glasgow for talks on Monday.

O'Connor says Celtic fans were in for a treat should a reported Stg2million transfer go through for 22-year-old Hooper, who has scored 50 goals in two seasons.

"He is one of the best players I have played with, he is different class," the Northern Ireland international said.

"If he goes to Celtic I will put a few quid on him to be top scorer in Scotland next season. I think he will get 25 to 30 goals up there.

"He scored 19 or 20 in the Championship last season even though he missed out on around 16 games.

Celtic target Biram Kayal is ready to turn down offers from Galatasaray and FC Twente and join the Parkhead club for less money.

The Israel midfielder, who has 12 caps, is in talks with the Hoops over a £1.2million switch from Maccabi Haifa. His agent Dudu Dahan insists that the player's first choice would be Celtic - even if it meant earning only half the money he could earn elsewhere.

Dahan told a leading Scottish newspaper: "There have been discussions but nothing has happened yet.

"Celtic is a very famous club in Israel. Biram would be willing to go to Celtic for 30 to 50 per cent less money than he'd get from other clubs after him.

Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has revealed he would find it difficult to ignore an offer to join Liverpool or Chelsea.

The Dutchman has slipped down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu and speculation suggests he could be set to embark on a new challenge.

There is reportedly strong interest from the Premier League - and van der Vaart is aware of the transfer talk.

He understands that a couple of major clubs are keeping tabs on his situation and says the prospect of such a switch does sound appealing.

"I have heard of the interest from Liverpool and Chelsea - and that is very flattering," van der Vaart said on Sunday.

"If either of them were willing to offer me first-team football, I will be honest that it would be very hard for me to not listen to what they had to say.

Meanwhile Ricardo Carvalho has revealed he has an agreement with Chelsea which could see him leave Stamford Bridge this summer and has issued a come and get me plea to former boss Jose Mourinho.

Carvalho followed Mourinho to Chelsea in 2004, after winning the Champions League with him at Porto.

The Portugal defender was repeatedly linked with a move to Inter Milan during Mourinho's two years in charge at the San Siro and is now desperate to be reunited with him at Real Madrid.

"If there was a possibility to sign for Madrid, I would go there right now swimming or running," Carvalho told Spanish sports newspaper AS.

Manchester City have completed the signing of Lazio left-back Aleksandar Kolarov.

City have been chasing the Serbian international all summer and he has now passed a medical, as well as being handed a work permit.

A number of clubs, including Juventus had been linked with Kolarov, but City are understood to have agreed a fee in the region of £19million with the Serie A side.

And Spain's World Cup hero, Andres Iniesta, seems resigned to Cesc Fabregas staying at Arsenal for another year, and has wished him well for his "last season" at the Emirates.

Barca's pursuit of the midfielder has provided one of the transfer sagas of the summer but the Gunners have held firm and rebuffed interest.

Pep Guardiola is pessimistic over his side's chances of securing Fabregas and Barca midfielder Iniesta accepts that a move is not going to happen.

He has spoken to Fabregas and hopes the 23-year-old can lead Arsenal to Premier League glory this season.

"Cesc wants to be with us, but he told me how close the Arsenal fans are to his heart," Iniesta said.

"He is a special player and I hope he wins the title at Arsenal this season. For them to win Cesc will have to stay fit and injury-free but he deserves to finish with a title. For all the work he has put in at Arsenal it would be a shame if it was all fruitless.

"I have seen time after time Lionel Messi win games for Barcelona when the rest of the team have not been on form and Cesc can do that for Arsenal this season."