Spurs set to announce Bentley signing

Tottenham Hotspur are set to announce the signing of England midfielder David Bentley from Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers after calling a press conference for Thursday.

Bentley was due to complete a medical late Wednesday before completing a move estimated at 17 million pounds (34 million dollars).

Tottenham's arch-rivals Arsenal, the club where Bentley made is name, are set to receive a cut of the deal as part of the agreement which saw the now 23-year-old move to Rovers in 2006 after a loan spell.

Should he pass the medical, Bentley is set to join his new team-mates in the Netherlands where Spurs are playing in a pre-season tournament in Rotterdam this weekend.

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos is also reported to be interested in signing Russia forward Andrei Arshavin, one of the starts of Euro 2008, following Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane's departure for Liverpool earlier this week, in a move worth more than 20 million pounds (40 million dollars).

But midfielder Jermaine Jenas and centre-back Michael Dawson are both staying at White Hart Lane after signing one-year contract extensions which are set to keep them with north London side Spurs until 2013.

Meanwhile Tottenham have sold 28-year-old French midfielder Steed Malbranque to fellow top flight side Sunderland on a four-year contract. No transfer fee was revealed.