Spurs turn to Ricardinho to answer recruitment crisis

Tottenham Hotspur are showing "strong" interest in Brazilian World Cup winner Ricardinho, according to the player's club Corinthians.

Leeds have been strongly linked with the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, but the Brazilian club's vice-president, Roque Citadini, suggested that Spurs are the front-runners to sign him.

"Ricardinho is training with Corinthians because he belongs to our team," Citadini said. "What I can't assure is until when he will continue with us because there is strong interest from Tottenham Hotspur for buying him."

Spurs have been linked with a plethora of players this summer but have failed so far to sign the likes of Rivaldo, Fernando Morientes – whom manager Glenn Hoddle insists he is still interested in – Kevin Phillips and Robbie Keane. Ricardinho would not need a work permit as he has an Italian passport.

Tottenham are also preparing a surprise move for Stockport County's England youth international centre half Robert Clare.

Spurs' Director of Football David Pleat watched the powerful teenager in action at the weekend and has spoken with the Second Division club. Pleat is well-connected at Stockport through his long friendship with Colin Murphy, his opposite number at County. Stockport have already had a £500,000 offer from one club, whose identity is believed to be Tottenham, although Charlton have also taken an interest.

Hoddle is also interested in Brighton's Bobby Zamora and could make a move if they lower their £5m asking price, or a swap is possible. The White Hart Lane club are working to a tight budget and, for all the talk of moves for Morientes and Rivaldo, they are concentrating on clubs like Stockport and Brighton for genuine signings.

The Spurs midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen is having a one-week trial with Germany's Schalke 04 along with his fellow Norwegian international Ronny Johnsen, formerly of Manchester United. However, Tottenham's wing-back Christian Ziege will miss the start of the new Premiership season with an ankle injury. Ziege picked up the problem a recent friendly with Celtic and is set to be ruled out for three weeks.

Chelsea are ready to sign the Boca Juniors centre-half Jose Bassi on loan. The young Argentinian has been training in secret with Claudio Ranieri's squad for the past few days.

Dele Adebola's move to Crystal Palace is back on after Trevor Francis re-opened talks with his agent. The former Birmingham City striker's demands were too high last week but a compromise now looks possible.

The Ipswich Town defender Hermann Hreidarsson has turned down a move back to the Premiership with West Bromwich. The Baggies had agreed a club-record fee for the 28-year-old Icelandic international yesterday, thought to be in the region of £4m. However Hreidarsson would have been required to take a considerable pay cut if he was to leave Portman Road, where he reportedly earns £18,000 a week.

There was better news for West Bromwich when their goalkeeper Russell Hoult signed a new four-year contract.

Aston Villa have been dealt a blow with the Turkish international defender Alpay Ozalan handing in a transfer request. He informed the Villa manager Graham Taylor of his decision yesterday. Taylor had been optimistic that he could hang on to the services of the 29-year-old World Cup semi-finalist, who is understood to be attracting the interest of Borussia Dortmund.

Middlesbrough's new signing Juninho will not play until next year after a scan revealed that he has torn his cruciate ligament in his left knee during a friendly in Italy with Modena and will be out for five months.