Hoddle may rescue Sutton from Celtic

The 30-year-old has scored 17 goals this season but has been out of action for a month with a broken wrist.

Tottenham boss Glenn Hoddle is anxious to recruit a suitable partner for Robbie Keane and after unsuccessful attempts to acquire, among others, Fernando Morientes and Michael Ricketts, he looks likely to get his man this time. A lack of finance has hindered Tottenham's previous attempts to buy players but with season-ticket sales for next season buoyant, chairman Daniel Levy expects to be in a position strengthen the squad.

Levy has appealed to the club's fans to remain loyal and prices for season tickets have risen by between only £10-£25.

In return, the White Hart Lane chairman is determined to furnish the team with some new faces at the same time ending the search for a striker. That hunt has now dragged on for a season and is seen as the priority.

Hoddle resisted the temptation to dip into his summer budget when the transfer window opened in January and since the fee for Sutton could be paid in instalments, with an initial down-payment of around £1.5m, there would still be cash available to him for other purchases.

Hoddle admitted yesterday that any decision about Sheringham was out of his hands and the player's agent Barry Neville revealed there were no meetings planned before the end of the season to discuss the players' future.

Tottenham tried to sign Sutton from Blackburn in July 1999 but their attempt failed because a £10m deal had already been agreed with Chelsea.

Celtic are keen to offload Sutton, the second highest earner at the club, and with John Hartson established as Larsson's preferred foil, his presence in midfield has unbalanced the team.