Spurs cash settlement for Arnesen below £10m??

Frank Arnesen was at PSV Eindhoven, having risen from assistant coach alongside Bobby Robson to the post of technical director, holding an advisory and managing role over scouting potentials and transfers at the club, for 10 years before Guus Hiddink changed things. While at PSV, Arnesen was responsible for spotting the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Jaap Stam, Mateja Kezman and Arjen Robben. Add to that he brought Eidur Gudjohnsen to PSV and the final piece of Chelsea's curiosity and pursuit jigsaw is there - the last three names are at Stamford Bridge, bring in Frank Arnesen.

With a reputation like that, Spurs seem to have made a potentially talent-developing signing in the form of the Dane, someone who I hadn't heard of before he came to White Hart Lane. He initiated Jacques Santini coming over and his successor and current coach Martin Jol. Spurs now look much more a UEFA place challenging side, at least, than before. They had a staff member who has experience in spotting good talented potential and could be pivotal to Spurs becoming a top six team. Paul Robinson the current England goalkeeper, Ledley King potentially one of the best centre-backs in the league rumoured to be an Arsenal target, Michael Carrick playing well in midfield, Wayne Routledge has pace and skill and is another England player at U-21 level, Jermaine Defoe hungry and lethal upfront and then add to those names Andy Johnson, who arguably could be a better striker for Spurs and therefore England, it looked very promising on the horizon.

Now the right arm of that promising outlook has been poached, and while it seems better in the business sense to negotiate a financial compensation agreement than report it to the authoritative association, which is currently going through a metaphorical washing machine without any water because Faria Alam decides to take them to the cleaners, initial rumours indicate a settlement of around £5m or £6m. That has to be below value haggling. The Dane is worth more than that.

Sorry, Chelsea fans, but your club hasn't been conducting business in the conventions of the game on two occasions, but I sense Chelsea fans will not shed a tear. Business is business, and in the realm of football anything goes as it does in the business world in general in this country. Money and size is power, and if you wish to get ahead of the competition you need to be pushy, demanding, stubborn and ruthless in your application to get there. Off-hand tactics are commonplace, kepted surreptitiously, who will be any the wiser?


Redsman.