Juande Ramos is going to be busy this month, according to the tabloids and his main objective is to find a new goalkeeper after losing faith with England No.1 Paul Robinson.

The keeper he wants most, after West Ham’s Robert Green, is Ajax’s Maarten Stekelenburg, who is supposedly the subject of a £7m bid byTottenham (Mail on Sunday).

Giant stopper Stekelenburg shows great potential and is the understudy to Man United’s Edwin Van der Sar for the Dutch international spot and has been pivotal in Ajax’s title challenge after a few lean years at the Amsterdam Arena. He's a solid performer who would be a good asset for a White Hart Lane side that ships far too many goals.

‘Shay Given and Charles N’Zogbia have been favourites of Arsene Wenger for a while now...’


Ramos is also after Espanyol defender Dani Jarque (Mail on Sunday). Clearly the fact that only Derby and Reading have conceded more goals than Spurs is key to future transfer targets. Jarque has helped his side to within spitting distance of the top two in La Liga. The 25-year-old is also said to be a target of Liverpool and Man City with a fee in the region £12m being talked about for the centre-back.

Another Spaniard fuelling column inches is Mallorca striker Dani Guiza, who is apparently a £6m target for Spurs (News of the World). The former Getafe front man is also being tracked by Bolton and Portsmouth. It is hard to see the need for a big-time striker to go with those already plying their trade at White Hart Lane. Any new arrival would probably be no more than a squad player, unless Dimitar Berbatov and Jermain Defoe leave.

Instability at Newcastle has given rise to rumours linking their top players with moves away from St James’ Park. Shay Given and Charles N’Zogbia have been favourites of Arsene Wenger for a while now and are reported to be the subject of a £20m double raid (various).

Irish international Given is, in my view, the best keeper in the Premier League – his performance against Man United yesterday prevented a 6-0 rout from being a 12-0 slaughter. Arsenal were said to be keen on the stopper earlier in the season but now that Manuel Almunia has shown his ability as Gunners’ number one, it may not be necessary to bring in another goalie. N’Zogbia also came away with some credit from the defeat Old Trafford and almost scored the goal of the season – he is the kind of player who would fit in nicely with the total football style at the Emirates.

Do I think this rumour has any validity? Not really, however both players are the outstanding members of an ailing side and they may feel the need to leave the sinking ship, unless a good quality manager comes in to save the day.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is beginning to feel the pressure and, in an ideal world, he would add to the signing of defender Martin Skrtel with more new blood, but the club's American owners are clearly not so keen to pump more cash in. That hasn’t stopped speculation linking Barcelona midfielder maestro Andres Iniesta with a move to Anfield as well as Chelsea (Sunday Mirror).

The Barca star is said to want to leave an unsettled side after six seasons at the Nou Camp. Iniesta would be a useful catch for any side, not least because he can play in a variety of positions and is still only 23. He has won just about every major club honour and £12m seems cheap for such a talent. But can Liverpool outbid the moneybags from west London? Unlikely.