Edman completes Spurs switch

Tottenham tonight completed the signing of Swedish international defender Erik Edman, after learning Robbie Keane is set to miss the opening six weeks of the season.

The Premiership side finalised terms with Dutch side Heerenveen for the signing of Edman, who agreed personal terms and passed a medical later in the day.

The 25-year-old left-back played in all three of his country’s group games at Euro 2004 – against Bulgaria, Italy and Denmark.

It gave Spurs fans a lift after scans revealed Keane sustained severe ligament damage to his right ankle during the first half of last night’s friendly defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.

The Republic of Ireland striker, who will also miss the international friendly against Bulgaria four days later and could be doubtful for the World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Switzerland in early September.

He told Tottenham’s official website, www.spursfc.co.uk: “It is very frustrating. You go through pre-season matches to get your fitness up for the season and then something like this happens.

“But I’m not going to get too down about it. I’m going to keep myself ticking over. I’m a quick healer normally and so hopefully I’ll be back before too long.”

The injury could prompt new coach Jacques Santini to make a move for Lens marksman Olivier Thomert this weekend, with the Premiership opener against Liverpool at White Hart Lane a little more than two weeks away.

Lens claimed they had rejected a £1.5million offer by Santini for striker Thomert.

Spurs have so far not denied such an offer, although they regularly do so through an official statement when they feel media information about them is false.

Keane’s injury could mean Tottenham offering nearer £3million for Thomert even though Keane’s co-striker Fredi Kanoute has given the north London club a boost by turning down the opportunity to play in the Olympic Games next month for Mali.

Kanoute had a good chance of being picked as one of three over-age players in the Mali Under-21 team for the Olympics, which would have meant him also missing the first month of the Premiership campaign.

He caused a storm at Spurs midway through last season by declaring himself for Mali, with whom he qualified through ancestry, in the African Nations Cup despite having already represented France at under-21 level and missing four Premiership and two FA Cup matches .

Before joining West Ham four years ago Kanoute worked under Santini at Lyon but the pair fell out before Kanoute was shipped off to Upton Park in a £4.6million deal in March 2000.

His Spurs’ debut was delayed at the start of last season after he sustained a groin injury on his first day of training and he has played in none of their pre-season games this summer due to a chest infection.

Now he says: “I am feeling a lot better and with some physical work I hope to play some part on Saturday (against Nottingham Forest in a friendly at the City Ground).”

Keane’s injury is another big setback, however, for Santini who has had to rule out Wales winger Simon Davies for a month after a shin operation and full-back Stephen Kelly with ankle damage.

Midfielder Michael Brown has also been struggling with a knee problem but the blow to Keane, whom the Frenchman soon identified as one of Tottenham’s key men, is by far the worst.

Spurs have won only one of their six pre-season friendlies so far – against non-League Stevenage – and Santini warned: “We can’t repeat the mistakes we made against Rangers for their two goals on Wednesday.

“We have to cut them out because against a top side like Rangers those mistakes mean goals and it would be the same against Liverpool.”

Meanwhile, the club are checking on Edson Rolando Silva Sousa.

The PSV Eindhoven striker is attending a trial at the club and features in the squad for tomorrow’s friendly against Forest – alongside another triallist, Lens attacker Dagui Bakari.