Spurs move in for West Ham's Ashton

Tottenham are today preparing to make an improved offer for Dean Ashton after having a £15million bid turned down by West Ham.

Spurs, whose bid to sign Andrei Arshavin has collapsed, have now turned their attention to Ashton, who is also a target for Aston Villa.

Although West Ham are reluctant to sell Ashton, who signed a new five-year contract two months ago, they want to substantially cut their wage bill and would be tempted if Spurs came back with an offer of nearer £20m.

This is because West Ham would have to give 15 per cent of any fee to Norwich as part of a sell-on clause agreed when they bought the striker for £7.25m in 2006.

Spurs boss Juande Ramos is desperate to sign a striker before letting Dimitar Berbatov depart for Manchester United, and had banked on Arshavin joining them but the deal collapsed.

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley, though, would be reluctant to let Ashton go at any price since the former Crewe player's exit would leave him desperately short of strikers.

Bobby Zamora has joined Fulham for £6m while Craig Bellamy is definitely out of the start of the season after damaging a hamstring against Ipswich on Monday.

Former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg meanwhile, has played his last game for West Ham. The Sweden international, who was reported to be earning more than £70,000 per week, has been told he can go with West Ham willing to pay up his contract. Lazio have been linked with a move for him.