Spurs launch £7m raid for Ajax keeper

The Holland international, who is deputy to Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar in the Dutch national team, is being lined up by Tottenham's director of football Damien Comolli after coach Juande Ramos dropped England's Robinson for the Carling Cup clash with Arsenal in midweek.

Sources at Spurs confirm that Robinson's first-team career at the club is over and it is anticipated that a definitive move for Stekelenburg will be made this week, although Ajax are reluctant to lose their keeper mid-season.

Spurs are also continuing to monitor Espanyol defender Jarque, though the player's agent, Javier Pons-Diaz, says the centre-half is unlikely to move this month.

Espanyol are pushing for a Champions League place for the first time and want Jarque to stay until the end of the season.

But his buy-out clause of just £8m means that he will almost inevitably move in the summer and Ramos is desperate to shore up his defence with the player rated to be the most in-form centre-half in Spain.

Stekelenburg, 25,who should take over the Holland spot when Van der Sar retires after Euro 2008, said: 'I've always said that if I would leave one day, that it would be for England. I knew I would make the step to the Premier League one day. The question is when the actual moment comes.'