Hoddle plays down Chamot move

Glenn Hoddle has denied Spurs are on the verge of signing Argentinian World Cup defender Jose Antonio Chamot as a mystery grew…

Glenn Hoddle has denied Spurs are on the verge of signing Argentinian World Cup defender Jose Antonio Chamot as a mystery grew over the former AC Milan star's appearance at White Hart Lane yesterday.

News of Chamot's arrival for a medical examination appeared on the club's official website, along with information that he had agreed personal terms for a two-year contract after been granted a free transfer by Milan.

But boss Hoddle, training with the Spurs squad at health farm in Hampshire, today rejected the suggestion that the move for 32-year-old Chamot is a done deal.

Hoddle admitted: "Chamot has come over for talks, but I think some people are getting too far ahead of themselves."

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Asked whether the player had undergone a medical, Hoddle said: "No, nothing like that yet."

And the former England coach added: "He will probably go back to Italy now and then he will have some more talks in a week or two, but he's just one of five or six possibilities we are keeping an eye on.

"We are in touch with a couple of the others as well."

Hoddle has already brought in Teddy Sheringham, Gustavo Poyet, Goran Bunjevcevic and Christian Ziege to launch his Tottenham revolution for the new season, but lost key defender Sol Campbell to rivals Arsenal on a free transfer.

Chamot has also played for Pisa and Foggia in Italy and returned to Serie A last year after a spell in Spain with Athletico Madrid.

He played against England in the 1998 World Cup and won the last of his 40 caps for Argentina in the goalless friendly against Kevin Keegan's England at Wembley last year.

Despite already signing Yugoslav Bunjevcevic from Red Star Belgrade for Stg£1.5million, Hoddle admits he is still looking for another defender to replace former skipper Campbell.

Spurs also need a new goalkeeper as cover for first-choice Neil Sullivan, but a move to recruit Republic of Ireland veteran Alan Kelly appears to have fallen through.

Kelly had talks at White Hart Lane, but returned to Blackburn claiming that: "financially, Spurs have moved the goalposts". -PA