Soccer: London rivals in tussle over striker

Tottenham are ready to make a £2 million ($5.2 million) bid for Chelsea striker Carlton Cole after Mido was left pleading his innocence following his dismissal against the Blues.

The red card means the Spurs centre-forward now faces a ban of up to three matches, which could rule him out of games against Liverpool and Aston Villa, as well as the League Cup tie against Grimsby.

With Fredi Kanoute already sold, coach Martin Jol prefers not to partner Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe because "that was the problem last season".

"When we didn't have Kanoute, we needed Mido. When Mido wasn't there, we used Kanoute," Jol said.

Spurs were interested in Cole when they were seeking compensation for director of football Frank Arnesen's move to Stamford Bridge.

But even though Cole has not been involved in the first team yet this season, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is keen to keep the 21-year-old striker, who went on loan last season at Aston Villa.

Jol has discounted a new move for Norwich's Dean Ashton.

"I read that we were furious at not getting Ashton but that's not true. We had the chance to take him and we didn't, so you can't complain afterwards."

The Spurs coach is also keen on midfielder Jermaine Jenas and South Korean left-back Lee Young-Pyo. Mido's red card for a forearm into the head of Asier del Horno has nevertheless reduced his attacking options, and the Egypt international was close to tears as he left the pitch.

"I went for the ball. I went with my arm but I didn't want to hurt the guy so I put my hand between his head and my head to protect myself and to protect him," he said.

Spurs keeper Paul Robinson added: "I questioned the referee at halftime and said 'Did you send him off for an elbow?'

"He said that he sent him off for using excessive force in a tackle. Considering it wasn't even a tackle, that was a difficult one to swallow."

Even reduced to 10 men and a goal down against Chelsea, Jol preferred to keep Keane on the bench as he moved centre-back Michael Dawson into the attack in the final stages.

Asked about playing Keane and Defoe together, he said:"If you play in Europe, it would work. You can build up and play through midfield.

"But in England, when they pressurise you, the goalkeeper may have to play long balls. Then it looks a bit silly when we play with two little strikers."

The Spurs boss does not want Mido to lose his attacking instincts but is keen for him to control his aggression.

"It's always difficult. I would have said it was a yellow card. It was maybe a bit enthusiastic and a bit dangerous as he came in from the side, but it was not intended to hurt somebody," he said.

"I have talked to him already. I have said that being positive is a great quality but you can't exaggerate. He was going in with his whole body and sometimes you can only use one arm.

"With [Chelsea centreback] John Terry's challenge in the first minute, which was not even mentioned by the referee, you saw two arms going in, but he always does it in a controlled way - and Mido didn't.

"It was not the most clever thing to do to go in like that."