Ramos Stays in Seville, Alves Wants Out; Spurs Linked with Roman

• Reuters, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:15 PM

England's Tottenham Hotspur and Spain's FC Sevilla are very much in the news today, after it was revealed that Spurs tried to replace coach Martin Jol with Sevilla's Juande Ramos. It was an offer the UEFA Cup winner described as "dizzying," though in the end, Ramos said, "There was not the slightest possibility that I would accept it because I'm under contract. It did not interest me or the club." Speculation now looms over the next possible successor to Jol, who is believed to be unwanted despite Tottenham's 4-0 win over Derby County last weekend. In his two years in charge, Ramos has brought five major trophies to Sevilla; last week he guided the King's Cup winner to its second Spanish Super Cup in a row.

Separately, Sevilla President Jose Maria del Nido announced that the club rejected more offers (believed to be from Chelsea and Real Madrid) for defender Daniel Alves. Del Nido said the club wants $53.9 million for the 24-year-old Brazilian right-back. According to Reuters, Alves could refuse to play if the club does not eventually sell him.

Back at White Hart Lane, Spurs have been linked with a move for Villarreal's Juan Roman Riquelme. The mercurial Argentine international returned to the La Liga club after playing at Boca Juniors last season, where he guided the Buenos Aires club to the Copa Libertadores title. Sky Sports' Guillem Balague said Riquelme "doesn't adapt that well with clubs that do not play for him," calling the 29-year-old a "huge gamble" for any English club that signs him.

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