Sunderland boss Roy Keane moved a step closer to achieving the signings of a quartet of players from Tottenham Hotspur after meeting the players involved over the weekend.

Keane is excited and confident of the transfers going through in what must be a unique transfer at this level. In fact I can’t recall a deal quite like it, with four players leaving en mass.

Steed Melbranque, Younes Kaboul, Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda are the players that look to be on their way to Sunderland in exchange for  something like £23million. The deal has been agreed between the clubs and it is now down to the players to decide, with Keane saying that he is hoping for ‘ a few positive decisions over the next couple of days.”

It is worth remembering the legions of talented players that arrived at White Hart Lane over the last couple of seasons, when Martin Jol was in charge, who are all but forgotten under the new regime.

Spurs are rumoured to be in the hunt for Zenit St Peterburg’s player Andrei Arshavin. An official from Zenit has confirmed that Spurs have made an offer of 20million euros, while his club would accept 27million euros.