Defoe ready to link with Fredi

Jermain Defoe is relishing teaming up with Fredi Kanoute again after completing a £7million move from West Ham to Tottenham tonight.

Defoe, who has signed a five-year deal with Spurs, demanded a transfer the day after the Hammers were relegated from the Premiership and has finally got his way.

Spurs have agreed an initial £6m (€8.78m) fee for the England Under-21 international, with a further £1m (€1.46m) based on appearances, and Bobby Zamora joins the Hammers from Spurs as part of the deal.

Now Defoe, who had been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal, is relishing playing alongside former Hammers team-mate Kanoute.

He told www.spurs.co.uk: “I can’t wait to get started and can’t wait to play with Fredi again, Robbie Keane and all the great players. I am really looking forward to it.”

The 21-year-old former Charlton trainee made 104 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 41 goals.

He also enjoyed a prolific seven-month loan spell at Bournemouth during season 2000-01 where he scored 19 goals in 31 appearances.

Spurs first team coach Chris Hughton reacted with delight to Defoe’s capture.

“Anyone who has followed his career will know the quality of the player,” he said.

“I remember seeing him many years ago at Academy level, he was a great prospect then and he has taken that through to the present day.”

Meanwhile, Spurs have insisted that their attempts to sign Paul Robinson from Leeds were scuppered only by Premier League rules.

The club wanted to sign the England goalkeeper but loan him back to Leeds until the end of the season to help with their relegation battle.

However, Premier League rules state that you cannot pay for a player ahead of him joining you, which meant the deal fell through even though Robinson passed a medical and agreed personal terms according to Spurs.

A spokesman for Spurs said the club were determined to try to resurrect the deal at the first possible opportunity.

“After reaching an agreement with Leeds United, Paul Robinson successfully completed a medical and agreed personal terms with us,” said a White Hart Lane spokesperson.

“This transaction would have seen Paul join us in the summer.

“Premier League rules however, have prevented the conclusion of the transfer at this particular time because they state that you cannot pay for a player in advance of him joining you.

“Paul is a player we greatly admire and we certainly hope to confirm this deal at the next available opportunity.”