Keane set for Spurs return

Liverpool have confirmed a deadline-day agreement with Tottenham for the return of Robbie Keane to White Hart Lane.

Keane, who has endured a frustrating six months at Anfield after leaving Spurs in the summer for £20.3m, was given permission to speak to his former club ahead of a proposed move.

“Liverpool Football Club have reached agreement with Tottenham Hotspur for the sale of Robbie Keane,” said a Liverpool spokesman.

It meant Keane was set to become the third player manager Harry Redknapp has brought back to White Hart Lane this month, following Jermain Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda.

Spurs have also been linked with Inter Milan winger Ricardo Quaresma, after the Portugal international was left out of their updated Champions League squad. Inter manager Jose Mourinho is also a known admirer of Jermaine Jenas, raising the possibility of a swap deal.

Any agreed deals could be extended beyond the 5pm deadline due to the weather.

The Premier League announced they would grant applications from clubs to complete transactions after the deadline if there was email confirmation from the two clubs involved that a deal has been agreed in principle.

The clubs were also informed they must satisfy the board that the prevailing weather conditions were preventing the signing from being completed by the deadline.

Andrei Arshavin braved the weather and made a last-ditch trip to London ahead of a possible move to Arsenal – with a deal appearing to be hanging in the balance when he headed back to an airport.

The 27-year-old Russia forward was in place to undergo the formalities of the transfer, although no agreement was announced with an hour left of the window being open.