Behrami attracts Spurs attention

A trio of Premiership sides are ready to move for Verona’s star youngster Valon Behrami once the season has come to a close.

Tottenham are among the three clubs in the hunt for his signature but they face a race to land the player with North London rivals Arsenal and Liverpool also interested.

All three clubs have all sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old midfielder, who is co-owned by Genoa but plays in Verona.

Behrami is tipped as one of the most exciting talents outside the top-flight in Italy – and has regularly been linked with a move to giants Juventus.

However, English clubs are in pole position to snap up the Serie B player and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is believed to have taken a personal interest in the playmaker.

Behrami is out of contract in the summer, so would be a financially attractive proposition and his age would appeal to Spurs who are re-building their squad with a host on young talent.

Spurs are hoping they can earn the points their performances deserve when they take on Manchester City at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

They have dominated their last two games, against Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-final and against Charlton in the Premiership.

However, they were knocked out of the cup by an early goal from Patrick Kluivert on Tyneside and then went one down within four minutes against Charlton in midweek.

It is a frustrating period for coach Martin Jol and his team who are not getting the rewards for their spirited performances – particularly away from home.

Midfielder Michael Brown insists that the team has to start earning results from their performances.

He believes that Spurs might be better off playing badly and pinching a win instead of playing teams off the park and getting nothing for their efforts.

Brown said: “It’s disappointing and it was another killer start. The guy has hit a wonder strike, we were just getting set and we wanted to start well - especially after Sunday when we didn’t start so great.

“We kept playing and plugging away, we had a good few chances but it wasn’t meant to be again. I don’t think it is about sharpness, the chances have been there and it is one of those things. If we don’t score, it is our job to keep the goals out as well. It is not just the strikers, it is all of our jobs to chip in with a goal.

“It is annoying us that we are not getting the results from our performances. At the end of the day it might need a case of playing rubbish and winning. It is disappointing but we will keep going.

“I think if we were playing badly and losing, everybody would be really concerned. It is a results business but at least we are not playing badly. We need to do more though.

Coach Martin Jol said he left Wales international Simon Davies out of the Charlton game to prevent the former Peterborough player from becoming exhausted. However, he will be back in the Spurs side for the clash with City.

Davies had played nine consecutive games before the Charlton match after recovering from a virus in January.

Jol explained: “Simon was injured for months and ill, but he’s played all the games since he came back. He’s been a regular.

“I didn’t want to exhaust him and it was better to rest him and save him for Saturday against Manchester City.”