- Mar 18, 2005
- 3,859
- 3
I know it's The Mail, but...
"Spurs just call to say they want to buy striker Kevin Doyle but Reading fail to answer the phone
Kevin Doyle's dream move to Tottenham Hotspur collapsed last night after the club were unable to contact Reading officials before the transfer window slammed shut.
Spurs' top target was Wigan striker Emile Heskey but the Latics turned down a £10m bid for the England frontman.
Spurs fan Doyle, who scored a hat-trick in Reading's 4-2 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, was thought to be manager Juande Ramos' second choice and they were willing to pay £7m for the Republic of Ireland international.
However Sportsmail understands Reading, who were aware of Spurs' interest prior to the transfer window closing, were reluctant to let the 24-year-old leave without having enough time to find a suitable replacement.
Reading sold last season's top goalscorer Dave Kitson to Stoke City for £5.5m last month and manager Steve Coppell would have had just Leroy Lita, Shane Long and David Mooney, a recent £200,000 signing from Cork City, as the club's only strikers.
Aston Villa, Everton and Sunderland were also all linked with moves for Doyle."
Would have been a pretty good buy in my opinion.
"Spurs just call to say they want to buy striker Kevin Doyle but Reading fail to answer the phone
Kevin Doyle's dream move to Tottenham Hotspur collapsed last night after the club were unable to contact Reading officials before the transfer window slammed shut.
Spurs' top target was Wigan striker Emile Heskey but the Latics turned down a £10m bid for the England frontman.
Spurs fan Doyle, who scored a hat-trick in Reading's 4-2 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, was thought to be manager Juande Ramos' second choice and they were willing to pay £7m for the Republic of Ireland international.
However Sportsmail understands Reading, who were aware of Spurs' interest prior to the transfer window closing, were reluctant to let the 24-year-old leave without having enough time to find a suitable replacement.
Reading sold last season's top goalscorer Dave Kitson to Stoke City for £5.5m last month and manager Steve Coppell would have had just Leroy Lita, Shane Long and David Mooney, a recent £200,000 signing from Cork City, as the club's only strikers.
Aston Villa, Everton and Sunderland were also all linked with moves for Doyle."
Would have been a pretty good buy in my opinion.