Egyptian striker may arrive on loan

Last updated : 26 January 2005 By Alistair Murray

"Tottenham are one of 15 teams in France, England and Spain as well as two more in Italy that have shown an interest, but we are evaluating the situation and no agreement has been reached yet," said one of the player’s representatives.

"Roma don't want to sell the player and that is problematic when it comes to reaching a loan agreement," the agent added.

Roma, who paid £4m to Marseilles for Mido last summer, have asked prospective clubs for a £1.5 loan fee, which has put off Southampton who are also understood to be keen on signing the striker.

Mido has played for five different clubs during his short career, but in his opinion wasn’t given a fair rub of the green at the Giallorossi after agreeing a three-year contract last summer.

Mido formed an impressive partnership with Chelsea’s Didier Drogba in France before that, scoring 21 times in 40 appearances for Marseilles last season, as well as experiencing Champions League and UEFA Cup ties.

During two seasons with Ajax he scored a goal every other game and also won the Dutch league's young player of the year award.

Tottenham are lacking height up front without the services of Fredi Kanoute, absent for the last two weeks and expected to miss the trip to Crystal Palace this weekend.

It’s a concern for coach Martin Jol who was forced to start with Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane as the front pairing against Chelsea at White Hart Lane. Due to the exceptional quality of Jose Mourinho’s rearguard last weekend the pair had an ineffective afternoon.

"We played better than them in the first 30 minutes and I thought we deserved more, but in the final third of the pitch we weren't decisive enough," said Jol afterwards.