Lee poised for Roma switch
Tottenham full-back Lee Young-Pyo could be set for a move to Roma -
sparking fresh speculation the Premiership club will make a renewed
bid for Wigan defender Pascal Chimbonda.
Spurs, who finally secured the expected return of crowd favourite
Mido on a permanent deal from Roma today, have been forced to play
Lee at right-back since the start of the season due to Paul
Stalteri's lack of match fitness.
Roma have been long-time admirers of the South Korea international
and tried to sign him last January.
Lee has been displaced from his normal left-back position at White
Hart Lane because of the arrival of Benoit Assou-Ekotto from
Lens.
Lee's agent Chin Sung-Won admitted a deal is close to
completion.
Chin said: 'Tottenham and AS Roma have agreed in principle to the
transfer of Lee Young-Pyo. We are in talks with AS Roma on detailed
contract terms.
'You can consider the deal as almost sealed, as the only remaining
procedure is the player's decision,' he told Yonhap news
agency.
Meanwhile, Spurs announced the return of Egyptian striker Mido, in
another deal with Roma.
Mido left the club in the summer after an 18-month loan spell after
Spurs refused to meet the Italian club's £5million-plus asking
price.
He scored 11 goals in 27 appearances in the Premiership last season
but a groin problem and then a knee injury ended his campaign a
month early.
Head coach Martin Jol said: 'We have been tracking Mido since his
loan ended and we were always keen to bring him back.
'Roma took some persuading and I'm delighted to have him in the
squad.
'He knows I like him as a player, his strength in the air and his
mentality. It's an excellent addition to the squad and our striking
options are now complete.'
The 23-year-old was delighted to return to White Hart Lane and will
add strength to Jol's attack.
The Spurs boss now has Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane, Dimitar
Berbatov and Mido to call upon up front.
Mido insisted he always knew he would return to Spurs even though
at one stage he was tipped for a move to Blackburn or
Newcastle.
Mido said: 'It was and it always will be a great honour for me to
play for Tottenham.
'I always knew in my heart I would be coming back. It is a
fantastic move for me, I have some good friends here and it will be
good to be back with the lads.
'I can't wait to pull on a Tottenham shirt, to play at the Lane and
score some goals.'
Ledley King has given Spurs a boost by declaring he should be fit
to return against Manchester United on September 9.
The club captain has recovered from knee surgery which ruled him
out of the start of the season.
King confirmed: 'I think I'm on target for that game.
'With the internationals it's two weeks before the United game so
the break has worked out well for me.
'I haven't missed that many games, just three in the first week, so
that's not too bad. I can't wait to get back out there, first in
full training and then the games.'
