Spurs considering Chelsea offer

Tottenham are considering an offer of compensation they have received from Chelsea to settle the row over Frank Arnesen’s possible defection to Stamford Bridge.

Spurs issued a brief statement this afternoon announcing they will be responding to Chelsea’s offer later in the day.

Tottenham had threatened to lodge an illegal approach complaint by noon today after pictures showing Arnesen having lunch with Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich on his yacht were published earlier this week.

Spurs suspended Arnesen, their sporting director, on June 4 and want an adequate compensation offer from Chelsea before sanctioning his switch and dropping their threat to report the champions.

Chelsea claim the meeting was purely social but will find it difficult to head off another enquiry that could see them have points deducted before the start of the new Premier League campaign.

The champions are still reeling from the Ashley Cole tapping up scandal which resulted in them picking up a £300,000 fine and a suspended three-point deduction for breaking the rules concerning talking to players contracted with other clubs.

Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, was also fined £200,000 for his part in the affair but he has lodged an appeal with the Premier League over his punishment.