Spurs fail in £8m Forest raid
Nottingham Forest today rejected an £8million joint bid for Andy Reid and Michael Dawson from Tottenham.
Although Spurs chairman Daniel Levy might return with an improved offer for the pair before tonight's midnight transfer deadline, Forest's decision to turn down the club's latest move looks to have killed the bid.
Forest chairman Nigel Doughty agreed a £3m fee for Reid with Southampton at the weekend but the player refused to join Harry Redknapp's side. It is understood he wants to come to Spurs.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are set to test Crystal Palace's resolve over Wayne Routledge today with a last-minute bid.
They were weighing up an improved offer on the final day of the transfer window after having a bid of more than £2m rejected.
Head coach Martin Jol had said his club were prepared to wait until the summer for the winger, who has rejected a new contract at Palace, but Spurs have pushed hard to get him sooner.
Palace boss Iain Dowie does not want to sell the player, who he believes could be invaluable to his side's survival fight.
And if Tottenham do get their man, Dowie would not have enough time to bring in a replacement.
Spurs, who face a home FA Cup fifth-round tie with Forest if they get past West Brom in the replay on 12 February, are keen to hold on to Simon Davies, who was today the subject of renewed interest from Everton.
Davies made his first start for two months in the 1-1 draw at West Brom on Saturday.
Everton confirmed they had been in talks over the weekend about signing the 25-year-old midfielder but a Tottenham official said today: "We have rejected any interest in Simon Davies."
Having recovered from a combination of injury and illness, the Wales international gave Martin Jol a glimpse of his ability at The Hawthorns. The Spurs boss said: "It's almost like a new right-winger signing.
"I was happy with Simon because he has not played for a long time. I wasn't reluctant to put him in the starting XI because on Thursday and Friday he looked like the old Simon Davies again."
Davies was unfortunate not to mark his return to the first team with a goal in the FA Cup fourth-round tie but he was unable to direct Jermain Defoe's cross goalbound.
The England striker had earlier equalised for Spurs with a 31st-minute penalty after he was brought down by Darren Purse.
The spot-kick cancelled out Robert Earnshaw's 17th minute strike but some defenders though Defoe had dived.
Jol said: "Jermain always stays on his feet."
