The nightmare that has engulfed Paul Robinson over the past 12 months is almost over, with the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper closing in on a move to Blackburn Rovers as a replacement for Brad Friedel, who is to join Aston Villa. Friedel’s move to the West Midlands is on hold while Blackburn look for a new goalkeeper, but Paul Ince, the Lancashire club’s new manager, hopes to be able to announce a deal for Robinson by the weekend.

Robinson, 28, is desperate for a new start, having lost his place as England’s first-choice goalkeeper last season and subsequently become surplus to requirements at Tottenham. Blackburn have already discussed the prospect of signing Robinson as a makeweight in the deal that is expected to take David Bentley, the England winger, to White Hart Lane, but now it appears that the goalkeeper could make a separate £3.5 million move to Ewood Park unless the Bentley deal is agreed imminently.

A Blackburn statement last night confirmed that a bid from a rival Barclays Premier League club for Friedel had been accepted but that “the transfer is conditional to Rovers having a bid for a goalkeeper at another club accepted”. That goalkeeper is understood to be Robinson, who has been told he can leave Tottenham after they signed Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven.

Blackburn would not have chosen to lose Friedel, the former United States goalkeeper, but they were unable to compete with Villa’s offer of a three-year contract on a higher wage than the 37-year-old earns at Ewood Park. Brad Guzan, a fellow American, is likely to be Friedel’s understudy at Villa Park, providing that he can secure a work permit for his transfer from Chivas USA.

Decent bets

Manchester City expect to hold talks with Tal Ben-Haim over the next 48 hours after offering Chelsea a package worth £4 million for the Israel defender. Chelsea are likely to accept the offer for the 26-year-old, who has been left behind while his teammates are on their tour to Asia. Mark Hughes, the City manager, believes that Ben-Haim can strengthen his defensive options, although his main priorities are to add a top-class right winger and a centre forward. Roque Santa Cruz, the Blackburn Rovers forward, remains a possible target.

Middlesbrough will renew their attempts to prise James Harper from Reading after agreeing to sell Lee Cattermole to Wigan Athletic for £3.5 million. Cattermole, the England Under-21 midfield player, has been given permission to discuss personal terms with Steve Bruce’s team and his departure would free up money for Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager. Reading have been demanding £5 million for Harper, the midfield player.

Sunderland completed the signing of Teemu Tainio from Tottenham last night and Pascal Chimbonda is likely to follow the midfield player from White Hart Lane to Wearside today after having a medical examination. Sunderland last week agreed a combined £23 million fee with Tottenham for Chimbonda, Tainio, Steed Malbranque and Younès Kaboul, with Kaboul expected to announce imminently whether he will join Roy Keane’s side. The Sunderland manager still has an interest in Kevin Doyle, the Reading and Ireland forward.

Bristol City expect to sign Michael Mifsud, the Malta forward, who scored twice for Coventry City in their 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford last season.

Dead certs

West Ham United have completed the signing of Valon Behrami from Lazio for £5 million. The 23-year-old, who played in all three of Switzerland’s matches in Euro 2008, operates at right back or on the right-hand side of midfield.

Reading have signed Noel Hunt, the Ireland B forward, from Dundee United. The 25-year-old is the younger brother of Stephen Hunt, who is a key member of Steve Coppell’s squad at the Madejski Stadium.