freddie kanoute to leave?

A remarkably mild-mannered post from Spurs striker Freddi Kanoute on his online diary (registration required, unfortunately), considering that - for reasons I can't quite fathom - his club are trying hard to offload him before the start of the season next week. Kanoute is not the most direct or consistent of strikers, but he has enormous qualities; his first touch, his ability to bring players into the game, and his unpredictability.

He made waves by declining to go on Tottenham's tour of Mauritious in pre-season, which was unfortunate, but he's played well ever since and, although Spurs now have 4 quality forwards, he's surely worth keeping, especially as Mido, our only other target man, has an even more tainted history of frustrating his colleagues and managers, and has yet to prove himself at White Hart Lane. Tottenham are, for the first time in many years, finally able to boast a squad which gives us options, and which is not crying out for a new player.

I understand that the club want to sign Jenas from Newcastle (who is over-rated but a still a decent signing), but sacrificing a good striker for a midfielder who won't walk into the team makes very little sense to me. And probably even less to Kanoute.

Yet Freddie writes,

"The truth is, I think that Tottenham are definitely willing to sell me. It's clear that they are prepared to let me go if they receive a good price. Last season I wouldn't have expected that to be the case because the coach praised my performances quite a lot, but in football you can never take anything for granted. You just never know what people are really thinking.

From my point of view, I won't be rushed into making a move. I don't want to leave in a hurry and end up having regrets, so I have a lot to think about. At the end of the day I will only choose to do something I want to do, and that means taking up a challenge that I will like. My attitude is clear. If I go, I go; if not, I'm more than happy to stay.

Nothing has changed as far my commitment to Spurs is concerned. I have a contract here that I would be more than pleased to honour. I am happy to stay here and fight for my place in the Spurs attack, even though I accept the situation regarding player rotation. I'm not unhappy."

I am. I hope he stays.