Spurs sign Tainio
Tottenham have won the race to sign Auxerre midfielder Teemu Tainio.
Tottenham have won the race to land Auxerre midfielder Teemu Tainio, with the Finn signing a pre-contract with the London giants.Tainio has earned rave reviews during Auxerre's fine campaign and had been linked with a January move away from Ligue 1.
The Finn, though, scotched talk of a January departure recently by insisting he would give his all to Auxerre for the remainder of the season before heading out on a Bosman in the summer.
A host of clubs including Manchester City, Newcastle United, Rangers, Monaco and Werder Bremen were all credited with an interest in Tainio, but they have been beaten to the punch by Spurs.
The 25-year-old is relishing the prospect of moving to White Hart Lane in the summer.
"I am thrilled at the prospect of playing for Tottenham and in The Premiership," he told the club's website.
"It is one of the best leagues in the world. I look forward to joining everyone in July."
Spurs boss Martin Jol has been busy shaping his squad, having already brought in Mido, Mounir El Hamdaoui, David Limbersky and Emil Hallfredsson, and Tainio could prove to be the most astute capture of all.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are set to take part in the Peace Cup in Korea in July.
Tottenham will join the likes of Real Sociedad, Boca Juniors, Once Caldas and Sundowns and local side Seongnam Iihwa in the tournament.
