Blackburn Closing In On Robinson & Pennant?Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince is reportedly close to signing Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson - and if that lubricates the wheels of David Bentley’s rumoured switch to White Hart Lane, Ince is expected to make a firm bid for Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant as Bentley’s replacement.
England goalkeeper Paul Robinson’s turbulent 12 months at Spurs could be ended imminently as Blackburn Rovers move to recruit him as Brad Friedel’s replacement.
New Rovers boss Paul Ince initially ruled out making a move for Robinson, saying two weeks ago: "There is no interest from me in Paul Robinson, as far as I am concerned I want to keep Brad [Friedel]. I do not want to sell Brad, so why should I want Paul Robinson?"
All that changed once Freidel said he wanted to leave Ewood Park. The big American is heading for Aston Villa after Rovers accepted a bid, thought to be for £2million, from the Villans.
Now Spurs have reportedly accepted a £3.5million offer from Rovers for Robinson, and the deal should be finalised by the weekend if Friedel's move to Villa is confirmed.
Blackburn yesterday issued a statement saying they had received a bid for Friedel, 37, from a rival Premier League side, thought to be Villa, but added: "The transfer is conditional to Rovers having a bid for a goalkeeper at another club accepted."
That goalkeeper and other club are understood to be Robinson and Tottenham, respectively.
Although he was a Carling Cup winner with Spurs last term, former Leeds keeper Robinson, 28, has had a miserable 12 months for both club and country, losing form, confidence and his place following a number of costly errors.
Juande Ramos has made it clear that Robinson is not part of his long-term plans at White Hart Lane, telling him he was surplus to requirements and emphasising the point by signing Brazilian keeper Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven.
Tottenham are presumably hoping that the deal to sell Robinson to Rovers will improve their prospects of taking David Bentley from Blackburn.
The North London outfit are expected to raise their bid for the unsettled former Arsenal winger, having had their initial approach turned away.
And should England man Bentley exit Ewood Park, Ince is said to be planning to replace him on the right-side of the Rovers midfield with another ex-Arsenal winger, Liverpool's Jermaine Pennant.
Pennant, 25, is rated at £6million. He has not established himself as a regular first-team choice at Anfield, and could find the prospect of a move to Rovers appealing.
