• Dutchman will bid for Tottenham striker if he joins Fulham
• Ajax manager coached Keane when they were at Spurs

Martin Jol is likely to make a bid for the Tottenham striker Robbie Keane if, as expected, he takes over at Fulham this week. The Dutchman managed Keane at White Hart Lane and has been promised about £20m to spend on transfers should he accept the job at Craven Cottage.

Jol indicated that he would be leaving Ajax for Fulham. “On Thursday evening Fulham contacted me,” he said. “Fulham told me they wanted me as their new manager and they contacted Ajax. The Premier League is the best competition in the world and I like London very much. Fulham is a great opportunity. The way it is going at Ajax we cannot play for the title or the biggest prizes.”

Ajax were last night trying to persuade Jol to stay. “For the past two weeks I have been very worried about what is going to happen,” Jol said. “In the past they [Ajax] have paid too much for not so good players and now they have no money to invest in the squad.”

Jol intends to bring his brother Cornelius to Fulham as part of his backroom staff.

FulhamTottenham HotspurJon Brodkinguardian.co.uk

• Hodgson wants to make Londoner his first signing
• Lure of first-team football may be crucial factor

Liverpool hope Joe Cole will resist the lure of remaining in London and agree to become Roy Hodgson’s first signing as their manager on a deal worth £90,000-a-week.

The England international has held talks with Anfield officials and Tottenham Hotspur over a lucrative free transfer following his release by Chelsea. Although the early indication was that the 28-year-old wanted to stay in the capital Liverpool, who are unable to offer Cole Champions League football, believe their terms and the prospect of regular first-team football may yet entice the midfielder to Merseyside.

Hodgson, who would prefer an answer from Cole this week as he prepares a makeshift squad for Liverpool’s Europa League third-round qualifier on 29

• Tottenham captain signs new contract
• Says, ‘I could never see myself going anywhere else’

Tottenham’s captain, Ledley King, has signed a new deal which will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2012.

The 29-year-old England defender, who is in Fabio Capello’s 30-man provisional World Cup squad, is a product of the Spurs academy and has made 290 first-team appearances since 1998.

King has been dogged by knee problems in recent years but his training schedule has been carefully managed, allowing him to appear 20 times this season as Spurs finished fourth in the Premier League,

King said: “I am delighted to have signed a new contract with Spurs. I have been here since I was a schoolboy and I could never see myself going anywhere else. This is where I want to continue playing my football.

“We’ve got the prospect of Champions League football to look forward to next season and with the quality of players we have I believe we are on the brink of something big.”

Tottenham HotspurPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk