Keane's move to Liverpool now looks imminent

Robbie Keane's move to Liverpool has moved a step closer after the Irish international was left out of Tottenham's friendly against Spanish side Hercules last night.

Confidence is growing at Anfield that Rafael Benitez will secure a deal worth up to £20million for the striker, who has yet to publicly commit himself to Spurs in the wake of speculation about his future.

Spurs boss Juande Ramos chose not to risk injuring the Anfield target and fielded the club's other unsettled striker, Dimitar Berbatov, and Darren Bent up front, with the latter getting an equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

After last night's game, Ramos chose not to speak about the future of Keane but declared himself happy with the club's pre-season so far. He said: "The score was not the most important thing - it was to ensure the players are working hard and understanding the methods we have tried to implement on the training pitch.

"I was happy with the performance the players gave. After 14 days working very hard in Spain I think the players at this moment are at a level that we are happy with."

Meanwhile, defender Younes Kaboul is set to have a medical at Sunderland today in the hope of completing a £7m move. The French international has had a change of heart after his agent Rudy Raba last week insisted it would 'take an earthquake' for him to go to the Stadium of Light.