Spurs win race for Swiss starlet

Frank Arnesen today revealed that Tottenham fought off serious competition to sign Swiss teenager Reto Ziegler.

The 18-year-old, who can play defence or midfield, has agreed to join the club from Grasshoppers Zurich when the Swiss season finishes in January.

Sporting director Arnesen said: "A lot of big clubs tried to sign him, I'm delighted we could. Reto is a very young player who has played at the highest level in Switzerland and has been in the Grasshoppers first team for oneanda-half seasons despite being only 18.

"He loves English football and believes that Tottenham is the right club to bring him along further. He is a left-back with the capacity to play midfield. He holds a lot of promise and I look forward to him joining us on 1 January next year."

Ziegler is at present involved in the European Under-19 Championships, where Switzerland have reached the semi-finals. Although no fee has been disclosed, Spurs claim they have reached "an agreement" with Grasshoppers to recruit him. The deal remains subject to formalities, such as a medical and personal terms.

Swiss defenders are all the rage in north London, with Arsenal having signed 19-year-old Philippe Senderos from Servette last summer. Ziegler's prospective new team-mates recorded their first win under new head coach Jacques Santini in a friendly at Stevenage Borough last night.

Goals from Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe secured a 2-1 success. The Irishman opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half before Defoe scored six minutes from time.

Stevenage then delighted the 7,000-strong crowd with a consolation in the 88th minute when Brian Quailey broke clear and clipped the ball over Kasey Keller.

The game also saw a first start for new signing Pedro Mendes who played for 45 minutes before being one of nine half-time substitutions. Neither of the club's other major summer buys, Sean Davis or Paul Robinson, were involved.

Meanwhile, West Ham manager Alan Pardew has confirmed he is interested in signing Spurs outcast Sergei Rebrov.

The Ukranian, who was signed for £11m, is training with the Hammers after falling out of favour at White Hart Lane. Pardew said: "He wants to have a chance at West Ham.

"He has a feel for the club, and certainly with his record and his history we have to give him that chance. It would be silly not to, so we are taking it day by day."

Rebrov has also been linked with Queens Park Rangers, but their manager Ian Holloway fears his salary demands will be too high.