Football: Kendall slates Spurs over transfer rebuff

Howard Kendall, the Everton manager, has criticised Tottenham following the collapse of Andy Hinchcliffe's pounds 3m move to White Hart Lane. The England international was sent back to Goodison Park on Thursday after it was revealed he is suffering from an Achilles injury.

"The whole affair has been like an Brian Rix farce," Kendall said. "The way things have been conducted is not at all professional. Having gone so far down the road to signing the player, to pull out just because he may possibly be unavailable for one match is absolute nonsense."

Everton are incensed with suggestions from Spurs that they deceived the Londoners over Hinchcliffe's fitness, amid claims that an extra payment on the fee had been agreed as long as Hinchcliffe was not cup-tied by playing for Everton last weekend against Newcastle. Spurs pulled back from the deal because they wanted Hinchcliffe to play for them at Manchester United today, claiming he would not have been fit. Everton denied knowledge of any such arrangement.

As Christian Gross's shopping expedition continues, Juventus's Portuguese left-back, Manuel Dimas, is the Tottenham manager's latest quarry. Spurs have approached the Italians with an offer for the 28-year-old defender and were close to agreeing a pounds 2m deal.

Dimas, who joined Juventus from Benfica a year ago, played for Juve in the opening Champions' League qualifiers, but was then left out of the side when Maureno Torricelli returned from injury.

Ruud Gullit has rounded on his Norwegian goalkeeper, Frode Grodas. Despite winning an FA Cup winner's medal in May, the 33-year-old has not even been on the bench this season. "I told him at the beginning of the season that I wasn't happy with him," the Chelsea manager said. The club has put Grodas up for sale, but have received no offers.

"It's not our fault," Gullit said. "Nobody wants him. That says something about how he played last season. You'll have to ask him why he's staying. Maybe it's the money. If he doesn't want to go, we can't do anything."

Another goalkeeper with problems is Bernard Lama, who may be on his way out of Upton Park without playing a game for West Ham. The French goalkeeper needs first team football to enhance his chances of making the France World Cup squad, but manager Harry Redknapp refuses to drop the in-form Craig Forrest. Lama could well look elsewhere, and Redknapp said, "I don't know how long he'll stay if he doesn't play.