Our sister site FootballFanCast.com picked up on a very interesting point regarding David James. Harry Jacobs cannot understand why Spurs didn’t bite the bullet and sign David James. When you put this into context of Cudicini recent  form I think he has a point

As the dust begins to settle on what has been a far from dramatic transfer window, we are left to dwell on the deals that could have been.

I am certain I wasn’t the only football fan engrossed on SkySports News awaiting that breaking story that was going to affect Tottenham Hotspur. Ten hours later and all I go exposed to was a transfer that had apparently already been agreed some 24hrs before. Waste of time it was, but it appears it wasn’t for the want of trying.

Since then I have counted no fewer than five players that Spurs were reportedly trying to sign yesterday but to no avail. Some were surprising (Upson, Van Nistelrooy), some were shocking (Ferdinand) and there were those that were clearly there for the taking (Petrov and James) if the football club just turned a blind eye to economics and just bite the bullet once in a while. We as a football club don’t seem to mind paying millions to managers in compensation to get rid of them, but when it comes to bringing in two players that are really going to strengthen our push for a Champions League spot we start getting concerned about their sell on values, or demanding excessive fees in return.

The move for James is well documented and with Gomes out and Button sent out on loan we just better hope that Cudicini doesn’t get injured in the coming weeks. I agree that £2m for a 39yr-old may seem excessive, but if were to get two or three seasons out of him then it is irrelevant. As much as Gomes has improved, James is a far better keeper, has a greater presence and really given our injury worries Levy shouldn’t have thought twice about sanctioning the move. I accept it is another wage on the bill, but there would have been no problem shifting either Cudicini or Gomes out in January.

With regards to the Petrov deal it now appears that Spurs were holding out for a full asking price for David Bentley oppose to settling on a loan, something I fail to understand the purpose of. I accept that we spent a lot of money on Bentley and would like to recoup a large percentage of a fee, but surely there will have prove more chance of him enhancing his value or justifying his asking price with games at City, oppose to the bench at Spurs. What was the fear of a loan deal; wasn’t our need for Martin Petrov far greater?

I just don’t get it and why another transfer window passes without a left sided player, I am left reflecting on what could have been. Both Petrov and James could have been worthy additions and players that would have really enhanced our squad. After a great start to the season where the chances of challenging for a CL spot I just didn’t feel this was the time to be careful in the market and we should have taken a few risks in order to give Harry every chance.

Given his perfomaces against Birmingham and United (he should have stopped that Rooney goal) do you think we should have bitten the bulit and signed James?

Just keep coming to The Transfer tavern from the Daily Mail, who now say both FIFA and UEFA “plan to ban transfers” on any players under the age of 18, following the transfer embargo imposed on Chelsea over the Premier League clubs inducement of Gael Kakuta.

Sportsmail claiming, that hot on the heels of FIFA suspending the Blues from signing any new players at Stamford Bridge until 2011. They along with UEFA are ready to push through new laws to prevent clubs from losing their young talent, which could even come into effect as early as next month.

It said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger along with United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson, will be discussing a number of subjects at the Elite Club coaches forum, with other top managers as they gathered in Nyon.

Apparently UEFA chief Michel Platini also meeting the advisor to Lens, who pursued damages from Chelsea over Kakuta, with Platini and FIFA reportedly intent on changing the laws regarding transfers of young players.

“As a strong advocate of a ban on the international transfer of minors, Michel Platini was pleased to find in Rama Yade both an ally and a supporter on this topic, as well as on the locally trained players rule (“home-grown players”) that is approved by the European Union,” a UEFA statement said this week.

“They share the same position on many of the key issues surrounding European football, including the most pressing ones such as the specificity of sport, club finances, locally trained players and the banning of the international transfer of minors.”

FIFA now said to be setting up sub division to the Players Status Committee, that will rubber stamp every switch of a footballer under 18. It’s plans revealed earlier in the summer by International Relations director Jerome Champagne.

“It has come to our attention that increasing numbers of clubs sign numerous players at the age of 15 and 16, because it is relatively inexpensive to bind these players to a contract,” he said.

“We want to be sure that talent remains with their home clubs for longer, and that these clubs are properly compensated for their youth work when the player does move on.”

What sort of liquid sauce was at the source of this one? Will FIFA and UEFA really ban any transfers for Under-18’s? Should this rumour Fly or Die?

Just watching the darts in The Transfer Tavern as Ian Appleyard at the Yorkshire Post tells us, that Leeds United boss Simon Grayson is adamant Jermaine Beckford will remain at the League One club this season.

Grayson confident of keeping the 25-year-old striker at Elland Road, despite continued speculation about Beckford’s future at United, with a plethora of clubs from the Championship pursuing the striker, according to the paper.

Leeds have so far resisted cashing in on Beckford, who found the net 34 times last season and has turned down the offer of a new contract at the Yorkshire side, with his present deal expiring next summer. When he could walk away on free-transfer.

“There’s been lots of speculation but Jermaine’s still here,” Grayson is quoted as saying.

“It will probably start all over again before the January transfer window but, in the short term, he will be getting goals for us and trying to get us promoted.

“If we win 46 games, I am sure he will be here next season. But, if we are where we want to be in January it will be happy days for everyone. The more points we are clear, the easier it will be to keep our best players.”

Leeds are said to have originally slapped a £2.5million price tag on Beckford, but have since taking the striker off it, with Grayson confident he will stay at Elland Road for the whole campaign after assurances from chairman Ken Bates.

“When we took Jermaine off the transfer list this summer, the chairman gave me his word that he wouldn’t be sold and that was good enough for me. We don’t make statements without following them through,” he said.

“People are speculating all the time but I had no worries that he would not still be here. We’re more than delighted to have him and more than delighted that he’ll be here until the end of the season.”

What sort of liquid lubrication helped this one? Will Leeds manage to hold on to Beckford for the season? Will this transfer Fly or Die?

Never stops in The Transfer Tavern as Darren Lewis at The Mirror tells us, that West Ham are lining up a move to lure striker Mark Viduka to the Premier League club.

Darren claiming Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola could boost his attacking options at Upton Park with Australian International Viduka, who was released by Championship side Newcastle at the end of the last campaign.

It said Portsmouth had tried to bring in the veteran striker to Fratton Park last month, but talks broke down over Viduka’s personal terms along with Pompey being in the throes of a tricky takeover bid.

33-year-old Viduka has reportedly already tried to orchestrate a switch back to the North East, but with the Magpies having just signed Peter Lovenkrands, apparently neither they or Middlesbrough are interested in the Australian striker.

What sort of liquid lubrication helped this one slide from pen to paper? Could Viduka really be set for a return to the Premiership with West Ham? Should this rumour Fly or Die?

Just beginning to settle down in The Transfer Tavern as Edwin Chong from Sportinglife.com tells us, that La Liga side Atletico Madrid are “close to signing” free agent Lucas Neill.

Edwin saying the Australian International, who left West Ham after snubbing their latest offer of a deal at the Premier League club is weighing up a multitude of offers, with Sunderland, Blackburn, Hull and Turkish side Galatasaray all reportedly interested along with Los Colcheneros.

31-year-old Neill said to be giving some serious thought to a move to Spain, with the new tax rate of 50% for top earners in the UK, possibly the catalyst to ending the fullback’s 14 years in the Premiership.

“I am in talks with a club outside of England,” Neill told the Australian media.

“That’s been the hardest one because of the language barrier. It’s a change of what I’ve been used to.

“A decision will take a lot of courage so that’s why I’ve taken my time.”

Atletico have apparently offered Neill £1.5million-a-year to make the switch to the Vicente Calderon, which is reportedly less than the Hammers final offer to the defender. However, Neill would still earn more in Spain due to the country’s more favourable tax rates.

What sort of liquid sauce was at the source of this tale? Is Neill about to end 14 years in the English top-flight for a move to Spain? Should this rumour Fly or Die?

Still got rumours flying everywhere in The Transfer Tavern as someone from the Daily Mail tells us, that Tottenham “failed” in a last minute deadline day bid to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy from La Liga giants Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

Sportsmail claiming Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has reopened talks with Los Blancos to bring the prolific Dutch International to White Hart Lane in a £9million deal. After being put off by the striker’s £90,000-a-week salary and having doubts over his fitness earlier in the summer.

Negotiations said to have started again due to the Premier League club holding talks with a plethora of Russian clubs over the sale of Roman Pavlyuchenko.

The Russian striker’s former club Spartak Moscow apparently making two offers to bring Pavlyuchenko back to the capital side and were reportedly willing to shell out £9million for a straight cash deal or pay £900,000 to take him on loan for the season, with a view to a £10.5million permanent switch.

Was it water, wine, whisky or white spirit fuelling this one? Did Spurs really fail in a last gasp raid for the prolific Van Nistelrooy? Should this rumour Fly or Die?

News of another deal waiting to happen at The Transfer Tavern as Carl Markham at The Independent tells us, that Aston Villa “hope to confirm” the capture of Richard Dunne from Manchester City later today after the Premier League have rubber stamped the paperwork.

The broadsheet claiming all the documentation needed for the transfer were submitted before 4pm on Tuesday and that the FA are satisfied with what has been handed over to them.

However, such was the workload in processing all the transfers on deadline day at the headquarters of the PL. It has left them asking for more time to verify the Republic of Ireland International’s £6million switch from the Eastlands Stadium to the Villans.

Dunne set to join James Collins at the Midlands side, with the defender completing a fast £5million move from West Ham to beat the deadline and sign a four-year deal at Villa.

“It’s been a mad 24 hours since coming up here but I’m delighted to have it all sorted,” Collins is quoted as saying.

What sort of beverage and how many are behind this one? Is the defender’s switch from the Citizens all but a Dunne deal? Will this transfer Fly or Die?

All go in The Transfer Tavern as John Ley at the Telegraph tells us, that new Tottenham signing Niko Kranjcar has revealed he snubbed a move to Premier League rivals Everton from Portsmouth to make the switch to North London.

Croatian International Kranjcar made a deadline day switch to White Hart Lane for a fee in the region of £3million after rejecting a move to the Toffees so he could be reunited with former manager Harry Redknapp at Spurs. Following compatriot Luka Modric breaking his leg last weekend in the clash against Birmingham City.

“Everton is also a big club but, in the end, the tradition and greatness of Tottenham made the difference,” Kranjcar is quoted as telling Croatian paper Jutarnji List.

“I also knew manager Harry Redknapp, and Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka told me great things about the club.

“It all happened in the last two days, although it is true that contact with Tottenham was here for a long time. Now I will play for a club with big ambitions, those which are similar to mine.

“I want to fight for trophies and I’m sure that at Tottenham I will get this chance, which I didn’t at Portsmouth.

“So for me this is a big step ahead in my career. If everything at Fratton Park would stay the same as before, I wouldn’t push so much for the move.

“But the ambitions were gone, the president wasn’t able to give so much money as before, players are leaving the club. I just didn’t want to stay in such a club.”

What sort of liquid lubrication helped this tale along? Has Kranjcar made the right choice in rejecting Goodison Park for Tottenham? Will this transfer Fly or Die?

No sooner has the dust settled at The Transfer Tavern as someone from Sportinglife.com tells us, that Ryan Babel at Liverpool has revealed he might have to leave the Premier League club on loan in January to enhance his World Cup prospects.

Sportinglife.com saying the Reds winger has struggled to get a decent run in the first-team at Anfield since arriving from Eredivisie giants Ajax in 2007 and will consider a return to the Amsterdam Arena in January after finding opportunities limited under Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

Despite starting the Merseyside clubs opening Premiership clash against Tottenham, the Dutch International has made just one substitute appearance since and feels promises made to him have not been fulfilled.

“There have been a lot of things promised, but they haven’t been followed up,” Babel told De Telegraaf.

“I would get to play for more minutes and have more chances, but after the first defeat, I only lost my place. I think half a season at Ajax with a view to the World Cup wouldn’t be a bad idea. I can add something to the Ajax squad.

“Loaning me out was not an option (in the summer). Now we have agreed to review the situation in January. I see the current situation as a signal that I really have to get playing.”

What sort of liquid refreshment was behind this one? Will Babel leave Liverpool on loan for the Dutch side in January? Should this rumour Fly or Die?

Coming in thick and fast to The Transfer Tavern as Skysports.com tell us, that the agent of Martin Petrov has revealed the Manchester City winger’s “disappointment” at not sealing a move to Premier League rivals Tottenham.

Skysport.com saying Spurs were eager to bring the Bulgarian International to White Hart Lane to cover the loss of Luka Modric, who broke his leg at the weekend, with it suggested David Bentley could leave for the Eastlands Stadium in some form of swap deal.

No move for either player materialised however, with the site claiming Petrov’s agent Luchezar Tanev has pointed the finger at Citizens manager Mark Hughes’ “unwillingness” for the deal not going through.

“I can say that Martin wanted to join Tottenham. You see that he has some problems at City and that’s why he decided to look elsewhere and Spurs made an offer for him,” Tanev is quoted as telling Bulgarian radio station Darik.

“But it’s not the end of the world. He has one year of his contract left and we’ll see after that.”

Was it water, wine, whisky or white spirit at the centre of this one? Did Hughes really slam the brakes on Petrov’s switch to Spurs? Should this rumour Fly or Die?