I thought this was a joke....apparently not
Hoddle offers Anderton plus £3m for Keane
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR are prepared to offer England international Darren Anderton plus £3m in exchange for Leeds United striker Robbie Keane.
Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle has made Keane his No 1 target this summer after failing to land Sunderland's Kevin Phillips but cannot afford to meet Leeds's £10m asking price.
Keane was due to hold talks with Terry Venables last night about his future role in the side and is prepared to leave in order to secure first team football if the new Leeds manager cannot guarantee him an extended run in the side.
Venables is a keen admirer of Anderton and is willing to turn to him if Liverpool beat Leeds to the signature of Feyenoord midfield player Brett Emerton.
Leeds have been in talks with the Dutch club about Emerton but face the prospect of being outbid by Liverpool after Gerard Houllier pulled out of signing Lee Bowyer.
Leeds and Tottenham have opened talks about the possibility of brokering a deal involving Anderton and Keane and remain hopeful of reaching an agreement.
Anderton has three years of his contract remaining at White Hart Lane but would relish the chance to work under Venables again.
Venables signed Anderton from Portsmouth for £1.75m in 1992 during his time in charge at Tottenham and the 30-year-old produced his best international form when Venables was England coach.
Anderton said: "There's no doubt that Terry is the best coach around. His knowledge of the game, the way he treats people and the way he puts his ideas across all make him the best.
"He is a great judge and knows everything about football. I was very disappointed when he left Tottenham, but what I learned under Terry Venables in that first year was immense."
