Assou-Ekotto drops Spurs quit hint

Benoit Assou-Ekotto has stunned Tottenham by admitting he could leave White Hart Lane this summer as part of a gentleman's agreement with chairman Daniel Levy.

Assou-Ekotto has been one of Spurs' most consistent performers this season, helping the Londoners climb to fourth in the Barclays Premier League table with one match of the season remaining.

"Everything is possible," Assou-Ekotto told France Football. "When I met my chairman last January, he told me that if a club bigger than Tottenham came for me, it (the club) would not necessarily be against a departure. With my chairman, there was a gentleman's agreement. As he is a man of his word, I hope it will make things easier if a great club comes in."

He added: "If there is a change at Tottenham - some more money is made available maybe - I wouldn't be against the idea of staying, but otherwise I'll try to move forward, as I did when I left Lens."

In ordinary circumstances, Tottenham would be guaranteed a place in the Champions League if they ended the season in the fourth position they currently occupy.

But Chelsea's passage through to the Champions League final means Redknapp's team will only qualify for the Europa League if the Blues beat Bayern Munich on May 19 and Spurs fail to move ahead of Arsenal into third this weekend.

Assou-Ekotto, it appears, would not be content at a club who are not playing in Europe's premier competition next term.

"All players want to play this competition," he said. "A few months ago, I said I never wanted to participate in the Europa League, because this competition is useless.

"If I have to leave Tottenham, it will be to join a club that makes the Champions League.

"Spain, Italy, Germany, wherever. The grass is green everywhere!"