Spurs want Parker in peace deal

Tottenham want to settle their differences with Chelsea by doing a deal that would take Scott Parker to White Hart Lane, even though it would break their wage scale.

The anger felt by the Spurs board over the Premiership champions' illegal approach for sporting director Frank Arnesen has given way to a practical assessment of how they might benefit. Tottenham feel that any further Premier League fine for Chelsea, or even a deduction of points, would be of no

benefit to them, so they would rather seek compensation another way.

They first approached Chelsea over Parker, 24, when Spurs chairman Daniel Levy met Stamford Bridge chief executive Peter Kenyon and chairman Bruce Buck at the Premier League summer conference last week.

The one stumbling block would be Parker's current wages of around £45,000 a week. Even if Spurs were to pay a cut-price fee of around £3.5m, he would have to become the north London club's highest-paid player.

Chelsea paid Charlton £10m for Parker last season, so would be selling at a substantial loss. However, that must be weighed against the costs of another Premier League investigation if they insist on defending an illegal approach charge and the possible punishment that would follow.

Parker broke a bone in his right foot at Norwich in December and suffered a further setback to his recovery in March. He played only 11 games all season, although four of those were in the Champions League. A move to

Spurs would at least guarantee him first-team football. Parker, who has made two substitute appearances for England, is also wanted by Everton and Newcastle, but Spurs are believed to be in the driving seat.