Spurs target Forest kid Reid

Tottenham have launched a bid for Nottingham Forest's highly-rated young midfielder Andy Reid.

Spurs are hoping they can add the Republic of Ireland international to the £500,000 capture of Michael Brown from Sheffield United for their Premiership survival campaign as they face up to starting 2004 in the relegation zone.

Standard Sport understands that Spurs have lodged an offer of around £ 2.5million - plus various performance-related bonuses - for the 21-year-old, who has also been tracked by Birmingham, Charlton, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers in recent weeks.

Spurs confirmed they were in the hunt for the Dublin-born youngster, who was once almost kicked out of the game for being lazy and overweight. Caretaker manager David Pleat said: "He is a player we are very much aware of and rate very highly."

Reid has scored 10 goals already this season and is regarded as one of the best midfielders outside the Premiership. His versatility enables him to operate in his customary left midfield role as well as behind the front two strikers.

A product of Forest's youth academy, he won his first full cap for the Republic in the recent friendly against Canada and is understood to have impressed Robbie Keane with his ability to consistently-produce defence-splitting passes. After scoring on his debut against Sheffield United in November 2000, Reid was banished to the reserves under former Forest manager David Platt. The youngster's career, however, has flourished under current boss Paul Hart.

Hart is desperate to keep Reid, who is understood to have signed a new three-year deal in the summer, but given Forest's financial predicament - and the fact that they now lie fifth from bottom of the First Division - it is almost certain he will move on when the transfer window opens in just two days' time. Forest rate him at £4million.

Meanwhile West Ham have made an inquiry about reserve defender Dean Marney. Spurs have so far indicated they are not interested in selling the youngster, but a loan deal during the transfer window is highly likely.