Duff on his way to Newcastle

**shakermaker1982** · 17/07/2006, 7:34 AM

From the BBC

Tottenham are close to completing the signing of Chelsea's Damien Duff, according to reports.
The 27-year-old winger is thought to have completed a medical on Sunday and is expected to make his move across the capital in the next few days.

The Republic of Ireland star, who moved to Chelsea from Blackburn for �17m in 2003, has a year left on his contract.

Duff has won two Premiership titles at Chelsea but has struggled to hold down a regular slot in the starting line-up.

He would become Spurs' third major signing of the summer so far after the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov, Didier Zokora, and Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Since Jose Mourinho replaced Claudio Ranieri as boss in 2004, Duff has been hampered by knee and shoulder injuries, and the summer arrival of Michael Ballack has put his place in the side under further threat.

The signing of Ballack and striker Andriy Shevchenko could mean that Mourinho will revert to a 4-4-2 to accomodate his new signings, leaving fewer opportunites for Chelsea's wingers.

Duff began his career at Blackburn Rovers in 1996 and made over 200 appearances for the Lancashire club.

Since moving to London, Duff has featured 95 times for the Premiership champions.

I wish it was Man Utd but it has to be good news for us if he links up with Robbie.

**macdermesser** · 17/07/2006, 8:02 AM

how many more midfielders does Jol want to sign? ManU or Liverpool would have been a better move .. must not be interested. Hopefully the move will allow Damien to develop his attacking skills again, after having them sucked out of him at chelsea

**irishfan86** · 17/07/2006, 8:18 AM

Brilliant move. I can't wait to see Robbie and Duff playing together each week.

And as said above, Tottenham's attacking style can only be good for bringing out Damien's best.

**Stuttgart88** · 17/07/2006, 8:24 AM

Hopefully Duff will benefit from Jol's management style. Of all the midfielders Jol seems to be in the market for few would directly be competing with Duff I'd say. Spurs is the kind of place where he could flourish again. Playing with two orthodox strikers to feed will be an instant boost to him.

I was on a business trip recently with Spurs fan who doubted if he'd be a good signing. Just as I take a very pro-Irish outlook on things, this guy is totally angloccentric & for purely selfish reasons I'd love to be able to ring this guy and say "I told you so".

**beautifulrock** · 17/07/2006, 8:25 AM

�11m, actually Chelsea have done well bearing in mind the downward pressure on transfer values that the Italian "firesale" will have. Good move for Duffer although would also have preferred Man U or Liverpool for the European experience. Glad he is away from Chelsea anyway.

BaZmO* · 17/07/2006, 8:50 AM

Originally Posted by beautifulrock

Good move for Duffer although would also have preferred Man U or Liverpool for the European experience. Glad he is away from Chelsea anyway.

Would of preferred those 2 myself but he will be getting European this season if he goes albeit UEFA Cup.

**Dr. Ogba** · 17/07/2006, 8:51 AM

Suppose this means Andy Reid should begin packing his bags then...

BaZmO* · 17/07/2006, 8:56 AM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

Suppose this means Andy Reid should begin packing his bags then...

I think he already was...

**Dr. Ogba** · 17/07/2006, 9:10 AM

Originally Posted by BaZmO*

I think he already was...

There was an interview with him recently (last week I think) where he was being very positive about his future and saying he was working hard in training in the expectation that he would be fit and rearing to go for the new season....must not have been in the loop on Spurs' transfer activities then!!

**beautifulrock** · 17/07/2006, 9:24 AM

If Andy is not packing, then he should certainly get a move on as he badly needs first team football for ours and his own sake

**shakermaker1982** · 17/07/2006, 9:57 AM

Forest would gladly take him back.....

**Soper** · 17/07/2006, 10:36 AM

Reading are after Reid

**Dr. Ogba** · 17/07/2006, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Soper

Reading are after Reid

Source? Hopefully he stays in the Premiership, maybe with one of the lower-tier clubs (Portsmouth/Charlton/Villa)...Can't see Reading being interested, sure don't they still have the American lad Convey there?

**Soper** · 17/07/2006, 11:16 AM

It was on the BBC forums, and it was in one of the papers yesterday.

They could possibly want to play him on the right, or more importantly in the middle.

**Stuttgart88** · 17/07/2006, 11:35 AM

There's been talk of Sidwell leaving

**tetsujin1979** · 17/07/2006, 12:34 PM

Sidwell's been linked with Man City, but I can only really see it happening if Barton moves on. Boro have been linked with him in recent weeks, but nothing concrete, and with the Huth transfer dissolving it's looking like Southgate will be looking for a central defender, rather than a midfielder.

**eirebhoy** · 17/07/2006, 12:44 PM

Absolutely delighted with this news. I can't wait to see Duffer back to his best again.

Spurs are on the up and with the team they've now built they should be challenging for the CL spots and a UEFA cup title.

**fergalr** · 17/07/2006, 1:04 PM

Its a pity its come to this - for a start its one less Irish player in the CL. Secondly its at best a sideways career move (moving to a lesser club in order to get first team football). Thirdly I wonder whether we will ever see the old style Duff - Jol runs a tight ship and I betcha that he will want him to play pretty much as he has been doing for Mourinho.

On the surface its good business by Chelski - 11mil when he can go for free in 12 months.

He was well loved at Stamford Bridge and he will be missed. Lets just hope its a good move for Duff and for Ireland.

**Bring Back Mick** · 17/07/2006, 2:25 PM

It was the height of summer at Cobham on Monday morning but thoughts turned to the 2006/7 season as a group of Chelsea first team squad members returned to training after the summer break.

There was a first taste of life at Chelsea�s training headquarters for Salomon Kalou (top picture on the left) and new goalkeeper Hilario. They were joined by Carlo Cudicini, Damien Duff, Shaun Wright-Phillips, G�r�mi and Lassana Diarra, none of whom had been involved in the World Cup.