Kanoute target for Barcelona
Barcelona could be set to test Tottenham’s resolve to keep Fredi Kanoute at White Hart Lane in a bid to bolster their attacking options.
With Henrik Larsson ruled out until the summer with a serious knee injury, the Spanish league leaders are on the lookout for a new forward and have most recently been linked with Manchester City’s Nicolas Anelka.
Barcelona said recently they would be unable to fund a bid for Anelka, stating that a loan move for a marksman was more likely than any permanent deal.
But sporting director Txiki Begiristain told the Daily Star that a move for Kanoute, currently a regular in Martin Jol’s improving Tottenham side, was under consideration.
“At the moment Kanoute is an option for the technical staff and coach to study, but nothing has been determined,” said Begiristain.
“Kanoute is a good player who is a force in our game and has a European passport which is a point in his favour. But we have still not spoken with Tottenham about him.”
Jol would seem highly unlikely to accede to a transfer approach for the Mali international, who also holds a French passport, having asserted just a fortnight ago that he was intent on keeping Kanoute, Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane at the club.
Kanoute joined Tottenham from West Ham in August 2003 in a £3.5m (€5m) deal.
“I am very happy that I have three strikers of such quality,” Jol said prior to Christmas.
