Spurs make play for Dean Ashton

Short of strikers after Robbie Keane's move to Liverpool and potentially even shorter if Dimitar Berbatov is sold to Manchester United, Tottenham have tried to sign West Ham target man Dean Ashton. A first offer of £15m was rejected, but Spurs may return with an improved bid of up to £20m. West Ham really don't want to sell the England fringe player, and chief executive Scott Duxbury was adamant: "Hell would have to freeze over for us to sell Dean to a major rival." (Guardian 06/08/08)

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LAST UPDATED 10:28 AM, AUGUST 6, 2008