“We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Everton and Steven Pienaar for the player’s transfer to the club,” Tottenham said in a statement on their website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com).

The 28-year-old had also negotiated with Premier League champions Chelsea about a move to Stamford Bridge, but Spurs boss Harry Redknapp confirmed he had chosen to move to White Hart Lane.

“He had talks with Chelsea and he had talks with us and he has decided to come to us,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

Pienaar joined Everton from German side Borussia Dortmund in 2007, initially on loan, before making the move permanent a year later.

His Everton contract was due expire at the end of the season and he rejected the offer of an extension.

Everton said on Monday they had accepted an offer from Tottenham for Pienaar, who missed Sunday’s Merseyside Derby against Liverpool following confirmation that a bid from Chelsea had been accepted.

He has made 20 appearances this season, scoring a solitary goal against Manchester United in September.

Source: supersport.co.za

Pic: Action Images

Speaking after Everton’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, Moyes said the club had granted permission for Pienaar’s representatives to enter into talks with Chelsea, but had rebuffed a bid from Tottenham.

“We have accepted an offer from Chelsea. Steven has not agreed terms with Chelsea,” Moyes said. “We’ve given his representatives a chance to talk to Chelsea, but they’ve not got permission to talk to Tottenham because they’ve not offered the same money.”

The likely departure of Pienaar is a blow to Everton, but with the player out of contract at the end of the season, the Toffees had little choice but to cash in during the January window.

British press reported on Saturday that Pienaar was holding out for a move to Tottenham, with Spurs his preferred destination.

Source: sport24.co.za

Pienaar, who left the country two days ago after an extended holiday following the World Cup has been under the radar of new Inter coach Rafael Benitez, who is believed to instructed Inter president Massimo Moratti to contact the Blues with a view to signing Pienaar.

Pienaar had an impressive run last season where he was also voted Everton’s player of the season. That performance got the attention of a number of major clubs including Liverpool. The player has yet to reach an agreement on a new deal at Goodison and David Moyes is keen to avoid the type of ongoing saga that saw Jolean Lescott leave the club in acrimonious circumstances last season.

Moratti may have to be prepared to lay out big money for the South African however after his public profile increased considerably at the World Cup, despite a string of average performances.

Source: supersport.co.za

The Bafana Bafana star has stood out in the English Premier League this season and consequently his future has been intensely scrutinised by the British media in recent weeks.

The Daily Mail is the latest publication to chip in with fresh speculation, claiming the Reds are preparing to enter the bidding war for the Westbury-born attacker.

Pienaar, who has a year left on his existing contract with the Toffees, has previously stated he will only decide on his career after the World Cup although his agent, Ivan Mudia, recently suggested otherwise.

Mudia said: “I think Steven would like to know what he is doing next season before the Soccer World Cup.”

Naturally, club boss David Moyes is desperate to quash the interest and is set to offer Pienaar a new lucrative deal, which will make the 28-year-old one of the highest earners at the club.

Moyes has also applied pressure through comments he recently made to the Liverpool Echo.

He said: “Steven Pienaar is at a club that really suits him and sometimes a player has to decide what is best for them.

“Everton has been good for Steven. If anybody wanted to leave, they’d be poorer for it. Most people that have left here, it’s not tended to work out for them.”

Source: sport24.co.za

Everton

Pienaar and former Manchester United star Neville both suffered minor hamstring injuries in Sunday’s 2-0 victory at Fulham and face fitness tests this week to assess their chances of making the Wembley date.

Moyes said: “Neville has a problem with his hamstring as does Pienaar. We’ll have to see how they are – I don’t know about next week yet.

“Phil’s was a little worse than Pienaar’s, I’ll have to see how he is as the week progresses.”

Losing both players would be a massive blow to Moyes but he believes France striker Louis Saha has the potential to frighten Chelsea’s defenders into submission anyway.

Saha is getting back to the form which saw him earn his 12.8 million pounds move to Manchester United from Fulham in 2004.

Moyes saw Saha, 30, turn in a spirited performance against his former club at Craven Cottage.

The Frenchman is now certain for a starting berth against Chelsea given that Everton’s on-loan Brazilian striker Jo is cup-tied for the showpiece final.

Moyes said: “I think Louis would be a player who very few would like to play against when he?s at full tilt.

“His reputation, he?s played in big games and for big clubs, and I think on his day he has all the ammunition to worry anybody.

“His problem has been getting him out regularly and giving him the confidence to do that again.

“I’ve got to say I think in the last couple of games – two goals last week and two or three attempts – I thought he had a good contribution to the game.

“I’m going to try and prepare for the Final as we would for any other away game. But the FA Cup Final will make things different.

“It’s the first time I’ve been there. It’s a new experience and I?m looking forward to having that experience.”

Leon Osman’s goals in either half sealed the win for Everton – their first points at Fulham since 1966.

The midfielder notched his first when he calmly rounded Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on the stroke of half-time.

Despite a valiant fight back from Fulham they were caught by a sucker-punch when Osman chipped in his second of the afternoon with two minutes remaining.

However, it was still not enough to take the gloss off Fulham’s day, as Tottenham’s defeat at Liverpool ensured their seventh-placed finish – the highest in their 130-year history.

It marks a sensational turnaround given last season’s relegation battle where they secured their top-flight status on the final day of the season with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth.

Seventh spot is also enough for them to qualify for the inaugural Europa League – an achievement boss Roy Hodgson is extremely proud of.

He added: “I am very proud although a little disappointed we did not play as well as we could on the final day of the season.

“I think the seventh place finish over 38 games is what we deserved and fortunately the other results went as we thought.

“I will take seventh spot and a European place and, after a couple of days, I will take a look back over was has been a fantastic season.

“I am delighted and now the hard work will begin to make sure we bolster our squad and are ready on the 1st August.

“This is a crowing for w hat has been a good season for us. I am really proud of it and shall remember it as one of my very best years.”

Source: soccernews.com