Arsenal are reportedly at least £7.5 million richer today as a direct result of David Bentley’s switch from Blackburn to Tottenham.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Bentley’s original move from Arsenal to Ewood Park in 2006 included a 50 per cent sell-on clause, which has now reaped major dividends for the club that he used to be a trainee with.

Spurs are reported to have paid £15 million for Bentley, with the fee even likely to increase up to £17 million based on performance milestones such as appearances.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, in the meanwhile, has extended another oliver branch to former keeper Jens Lehmann following their 3-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart yesterday.

Lehmann, 38, opted to return to Germany after having been left to languish on the Arsenal bench last season once Wenger abruptly decided that Spanish stopper Manuel Almunia deserved to be the new No. 1.

“He will always be remembered as a great goalkeeper, a good influence and a super professional,” said Wenger.

“We had our differences but always with respect. As long as a guy comes in in the morning and gives 100 per cent to do well then you respect him.”

Ref From Derek Wanner, Goal.com

Blackburn’s David Bentley looks set to become a Tottenham player after having a medical with the club on Wednesday.

Spurs have made another bid closer to Rovers’ £18m valuation of the England winger after previous offers from the club, and Aston Villa, were rejected.

Bentley, 23, joined Rovers in 2006 and extended his contract last year but has made it clear he wants to move on.

Former club Arsenal are expected to receive a portion of the fee as part of the deal which took him to Ewood Park.

Spurs, who won the Carling Cup last season but finished a disappointing 11th in the Premier League, have scheduled a press conference at 10 am on Thursday at their Chigwell training ground with Bentley expected to attend.

Should the transfer go through, he is expected to travel to Holland this weekend with his new team-mates to be part of Spurs’ pre-season preparations at the Feyenoord Jubileum Tournament.

In his time at Blackburn, Bentley has scored 13 goals in 102 Premier League games and won six England caps.

His signing would be a welcome boost for Tottenham fans after Robbie Keane’s £20.3m move to Liverpool.

There have been rumours that Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov could also be on his way out of White Hart Lane, with Manchester United confirmed admirers.

Russia forward Andrei Arshavin, Argentine striker Diego Milito and Valencia’s David Villa have also all been linked with Spurs this summer.

Ref From BBC SPORTS

The Mirror has reported that bagging Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz is now Manchester City’s top summer priority…

Mark Hughes spoke proundly last term about his bargain signing £3.5m Roque Santa Cruz, insisting that he represented better value for money than another Premiership new-boy, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres.

Recently, Hughes has been tipped to swoop for his star pupil as he looks to bolster his frontline at new club Manchester City.

The Paraguay international was prolific last season, netting 19 goals in a Rovers shirt, attracting the attention of bigger clubs.

With the new Premiership season fast approaching, though, Santa Cruz remains a Rover, much to the delight of new Ewood gaffer Paul Ince.

However, The Mirror now understands that Hughes has told the City bigwigs that he intends to step up his pursuit of the 26-year-old hitman, making him his top reansfer priority this summer.

Speaking to La Nacion recently about a proposed £15m move, the forward refused to rule out an Eastlands switch, saying: “It would represent good money for the club when you look at what they paid for me.”

Hughes updated City executive Garry Cook on his targets at the weekend whilst in Germany. Sources suggest that Santa Cruz is feeling unsettled by the recent speculation and will instruct his agent to sort out his future one way or the other.

Ref From Liam Black, Goal.com