Spurs go for broke in Chelsea row

Of the three possible courses of action Spurs are now threatening, an official complaint to the Premier League could lead to an inquiry and the possible docking of three points next season, the punishment currently suspended in the wake of the Ashley Cole inquiry.

The other options are civil action or forcing the suspended Arnesen to spend the remaining two years of his contract with Spurs on gardening leave.

Tottenham point to the enticement package that Chelsea offered Kenyon - in the region of £3million - when they lured him fromManchester United and consider £5m to be a fair deal for Arnesen.

The breakdown leaves Scott Parker in limbo. A cut-price deal for the England midfielder had been suggested by Tottenham as part of a compensation package. Any hope of further discussions between Chelsea and Tottenham today are now extremely unlikely, especially as Kenyon will be in Italy to discuss a deal that would see Hernan Crespo join AC Milan, with their Georgian left back Kakha Kaladze possibly moving the other way. Athletic Bilbao's Asier Del Horno is still an option in the same position.

Kenyon will also discuss the future of Juan Sebastian Veron with Inter Milan, but last night the possibility of an offer for Inter's Brazilian striker Adriano looked less likely. At £65million, he is considered a big risk.

Former Spurs manager Jacques Santini will take over as Auxerre boss from Guy Roux, who was in charge there for 43 years.