Keane offered to Tottenham for £9m

By David Francis

LEEDS have told Tottenham they can have Irish World Cup star Robbie Keane for £9m (€14m) in a straight cash deal.

Although new Leeds manager Terry Venables is still keen on a swap with Darren Anderton, Glenn Hoddle has made it clear to the Spurs board that he does not want to lose the former England international.

But the Spurs manager is known to be a great admirer of the Republic of Ireland international who scored three times in the World Cup.

Hoddle is pursuing a number of striker options, with Real Madrid’s Fernando Morientes his top target. And he confirmed that he was at Brighton on Tuesday night to watch Bobby Zamora.

With the transfer window due to close on August 31, Hoddle is running out of time to secure the striker he has been chasing all summer.

Although he insists the Morientes move is still alive, he also has his eye on Keane.

The former Wolves, Coventry and Inter Milan star has already rejected a move to Sunderland this summer and wants to fight for his place at Leeds.

But Leeds still need to sell one of their star players to raise money before the transfer deadline following the collapse of Lee Bowyer’s move to Liverpool.

It is clear to Keane that he is unlikely to be a first choice under Venables whose preferred frontline is Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell. With Alan Smith waiting in the wings and Robbie Fowler returning from injury, he could find himself fifth choice.

Keane may welcome the move to White Hart Lane where he would be the first-choice striker and a firm fans favourite. He believes no top club has seen the best of him yet because he has not been guaranteed a regular starting place.