Spurs "have one hand on" Ipswich ace Wickham
Published 23:00 17/02/11 By Dave Allard
Ipswich strike sensation Connor Wickham is set to become a Tottenham player this summer.
White Hart Lane chief Harry Redknapp is believed to be prepared to go as high as £15million to buy the 17-year-old.
A club insider said: “We feel we already have one hand on Connor.”
Other Premier League managers also want England Under-21 international Wickham, who hit a stunning hat-trick as Ipswich won 6-0 at Doncaster on Tuesday night, but Spurs have an agreement with Ipswich that they have first refusal if the price is right.
Ipswich owner Marcus Evans is well connected with Spurs, and is set to let them have their man in the close season.
At White Hart Lane, Wickham will link up again with familiar faces - youth coach Bryan Klug used to be director of Ipswich's academy set-up and first worked with Wickham when he was 13, while scout Charlie Woods is an ex-Ipswich coach and talent spotter.
Wickham has been a key figure in the Ipswich resurgence under new boss Paul Jewell following the sacking of Roy Keane.
The Suffolk side have moved up the Championship table to 13th from the relegation zone after a four win and one draw run.
Jewell has a brief to be as low key as he can on a player regarded as the best youngster to come into the club since Kevin Beattie, voted the best Ipswich player of all time.
Jewell says that the 6ft 3in 14st attacker is just "getting on with the job. He can go all the way in the game as he’s got all the tools of the trade in his box. Connor handles all the speculation surrounding him well.
“He’s a mature lad and has got his feet on the ground."
