Going Spur: Arsenal icon Aaron Ramsey linked with move to bitter rivals

Paul Okey
29 March 2021

Tottenham interest in midfielder confirmed, while Defoe urges Kane to get out of there.

SOCCER: Tottenham have emerged as shock suitors for former Arsenal icon Aaron Ramsey, according to reports in Italy.

Juventus are poised to sell the £400,000-a-week midfielder, 30, as part of a cost-cutting squad overhaul this summer.

Ramsey has managed just 12 Serie A appearances this season, with Juventus 10 points adrift of Inter Milan in their quest to make it 10 league crowns in a row.

Tuttomercato via The Sun says Spurs have declared an interest in the Welshman along with Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton.

Ramsey spent 11 years in north London, playing over 250 games for the Gunners.

A switch to Arsenal's bitter rivals certainly seems unlikely - Sky Bet price a summer move to Spurs at 25/1.

Liverpool (5/2 favourites) are seen as a better fit, especially with Georginio Wijnaldum expected to move on in the summer.

Wijnaldum, who was involved in a touchline row with Netherlands boss Frank de Boer on Saturday, is 1/6 to make a close-season switch to Barcelona.

Everton are rated 6/1 shots to beat their near-neighbours to Ramsey, while a return to the Emirates can be backed at 8/1.

Defoe: Harry up and leave Tottenham

SOCCER: Jermain Defoe has urged Harry Kane not to repeat his mistake and stay at Tottenham too long.

Defoe made close to 300 appearances for Spurs in two spells at the club but says he should have left earlier in the pursuit of silverware.

"Since I've come away from that and gone to Rangers, I've seen that mentality and played for another big club, the importance of playing for that club and winning every game, that mentality, the standards and demands," Defoe told talkSPORT.

"You have to win and bring silverware, otherwise it's not good enough. When you actually achieve that and the feeling you get from that, wow man. I wish I had that earlier on in my career."

While a top-four finish is the best Tottenham can hope for this season, Kane is still in the running for the PFA Player of the Year (11/2 with Bet365) and the Golden Boot (6/5 favourite with Paddy Power).

But Defoe says the England striker needs to depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if he is to swap individual glory for team prizes.

"If Harry Kane wants that and wants to win trophies then it looks like he has to go.

"I don't think it will be easy for him to leave and he might be looking at it and want to finish off being the highest goalscorer in the club's history and see where that takes him.

"He can hopefully win a few trophies, but if he's really craving medals then he really has to go."

Kane is rated an 11/4 chance with Sky Bet to join Manchester City in the summer.

Keane wants to make Butt a Bhoy

SOCCER: Roy Keane is hoping the addition of Nicky Butt can help swing the Celtic job his way.

The fiery Irishman has not been in charge of a side since leaving Ipswich ten years ago.

The former Manchester United captain is on the shortlist to replace Neil Lennon and has already held talks with the Parkhead hierarchy.

And according to The Sun, bringing in Butt as his No. 2 would be his first move after his appointment.

Butt, 46, made a shock exit from United last week after nine years as coach and then head of first-team development.

The hugely experienced coach is not thought to be short of offers, with a role at Wayne Rooney's Derby County also a possibility as he seeks "a new professional challenge".

A Keane-Butt combination still might not be enough to land the Celtic role, however, with Keane a 4/1 shot with Sky Bet.

Former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe is 8/11 favourite, with current incumbent John Kennedy 11/4.

* All odds correct at time of publication