BYWATER SET FOR SPURS

Bywater - close to joining Spurs.

Tottenham are close to signing goalkeeper Stephen Bywater from Derby, according to Paul Jewell.

The Rams boss admits he would have liked to keep the 27-year-old at Pride Park but with Lewis Price and Roy Carroll also on the books, Jewell was forced to let one go.

Spurs, who have completed the signing of David Bentley from Blackburn for £15million, signed highly-rated number one Heurelho Gomes from PSV this summer, but with Paul Robinson offloaded to Blackburn and Radek Cerny having left after a loan spell, they have been on the lookout for another goalkeeper.

Jewell told the Evening Telegraph: "Tottenham came in with a bid for Stephen and the player is very keen to go, which is fully understandable.

"I would like to have kept him but it is a move which appeals to him and we wish him well."

Bywater was first-choice for the Rams on promotion to the Premier League, but lost his place after suffering a shoulder injury.

He then spent four months on loan at Ipswich in the Championship but they decided against making the move permanent and Bywater returned to Pride Park at the end of the season.