[azzurri]

Roma are ready to sell Mido to Tottenham Hotspur in order to raise the funds necessary to swoop for Udinese star Vincenzo Iaquinta.

The Italian international is the club’s primary transfer objective after boss Luciano Spalletti, who worked with him during his time as Udinese Coach, specifically requested his services.

However, the Bianconeri star is not going to come cheap as the club value him in the region of £15m.

Roma are in no financial state to meet such a figure and will have to sell first, with Mido ready to make his loan move to Spurs permanent.

“It is important for me to stay at one club for four or five years and I think that Tottenham is the ideal solution for me,” the Egyptian international has stated.

“I like everything there is here, the stadium, the fans, the people, the way we play our football,” added the former Ajax sensation.

“I love English football and I am settled here with my family. I came to Spurs because I didn’t have much space at Roma and I want to stay.”

The capital club, who signed the enigma from French giants Marseille, are hoping to net somewhere in the region of £5m for the player.

Roma, who will be free to operate on the transfer market in the summer once their ban expires, have had a constant striker crisis this term.

So much so that 16-year-old Stefano Okaka may play against Ascoli at the weekend in the absence of Francesco Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Shabani Nonda.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...lia/mar8e.html