Ramos coy over strike duo

Berbatov and Keane linked with Spurs exit

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 17th July 2008

Ramos coy over strike duo

Keane and Berbatov: Wanted men

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Juande Ramos has refused to rule out the sale of either Dimitar Berbatov or Robbie Keane, but believes that Tottenham will still be capable of challenging for the top four.

The Spanish coach is currently putting his players through their paces at a pre-season training camp in Oliva, just south of Valencia.

Berbatov has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, with Barcelona also showing an interest, while Rafa Benitez has confirmed Liverpool's admiration for Keane.

Important players

Ramos told AS: "We will see what happens there, but we are talking about two very important players. For the moment they are with us, but whatever happens the idea is to have a great squad, with the potential to allow us to aim to improve on what we managed last season.

"We have to be realistic and see what we are starting with and who we are competing against. There are some big clubs who have spent a lot of money over many years and have a certain advantage, in fact they claim they want to sign some of our players.

"At Tottenham, we have had a clear philosophy regarding buying and selling for years. The idea is signing young players, promising and talented ones, and if important offers for older players are made, studying it to see what is the best for the club."

Tottenham's philosophy of signing young talent appear to be working this summer after the signings of Luka Modric and Giovani Dos Santos.

"We signed this player [Modric] before Euros because we knew his price could rise, and we expect a lot from him," Ramos added.

"Our idea was the same when we signed Giovani. It's an attractive addition to the squad, done in a logical way, and with which we are hopeful we will compete against the best teams."

Rumours

Ramos is accustomed to the media speculation surrounding which players he will sign and appears almost amused by the amount of stories.

"There are many rumours, but the majority are not true. We have a clear idea who we want and what other people say is not our problem. Since I came here we have been linked with 40 players and none have come," he added.

The Spaniard outlined his ambitions for the North London club and knows that breaking into the top four will be a tough task but it is one that he thinks is achievable.

"It is clear that there is a top four that include Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal and they are the ones that in recent seasons have taken the Champions League places and it is difficult to get into there," he continued.

"Our aim is to put an end to that top four in the Premier League and to push ourselves into those places, but we know it will be very difficult and there are other teams going for the same thing."