Spurs and Chelsea start summer sprees

Tottenham and Chelsea signalled the start of their summer spending plans today when they confirmed transfer moves for defenders.

Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle's first White Hart Lane target, Yugoslav defender Goran Bunjevcevic, arrived at Heathrow this morning for a medical as Chelsea confirmed their interest in Marseille defender William Gallas.

Bunjevcevic, the 28-year-old Red Star Belgrade captain, is likely to cost Spurs around £4 million, although the deal will not be completed for at least a fortnight.

The defender hopes to sign a four-year contract and said: "I'm looking forward to joining Tottenham.

"They are one of the great-est clubs in England and I hope it can be a club like it was before. In Yugoslavia we have sports programmes where we see Premiership football and I'm excited about playing here."

Chelsea were also looking to bolster their defence with a bid for Gallas. They revealed they had opened talks with the French club about signing the £6 m-rated player but said no deal was imminent.

Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson confirmed to Standard Sport the player was one of a number they were tracking but the French club's valuation of Gallas is likely to be the stumbling block over any deal.

Hutchinson said: "He is one of a number of players we are interested in and I can confirm we have had some talks with Marseille which have not born fruit at present. The ball is now in their court as there is a distance between the valuations."

The 23-year-old has also been linked with a move to Italian Serie A side Fiorentina but Chelsea are hopeful they can strike a deal for the former French Under-21 international.

If he was to move to Chelsea, Gallas would be the second central defender to come to Stamford Bridge from Marseille this year, after South African international Pierre Issa joined on a six-month loan at the end of January.