Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Blackburn Rovers winger David Bentley for an undisclosed fee.

Spurs manager Juande Ramos said: “I think Bentley had a magnificent season, a great season. I not only noticed him playing well for Blackburn but also for the national team as well.

“As the season came to a close, we were convinced he had the qualities to do very well at this club.”

Bentley added: “I want to be as successful as possible at Spurs and I’ll give my all every day to do that.

“The club has paid a lot of money for me and I want to repay that. I’ve never been happy with second best and I will give everything to succeed.

“If I do that and everyone else does that in the dressing room we’ll be going places because the talent is here.

“I want to be part of something special, something that will grow and grow. A club like this deserves it.”

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill says he’s ‘absolutely delighted’ now that midfielder Gareth Barry will not be joining Liverpool and staying at Villa Park.

O’Neill said: “Naturally we’re all absolutely delighted that Gareth will be staying at Villa Park and relieved to find a resolution and closure to the saga.

“We had a very positive meeting on Monday when it was agreed between Gareth, his agent, [Aston Villa] Mr [chairman] Randy Lerner and myself that a deadline should be communicated to Liverpool to finally resolve the situation.

“Liverpool were informed and that deadline came and passed. Now we can all look forward to the coming season with relief, anticipation and ambition.”

Wigan Athletic defender Paul Scharner has signed a new two-year contract at the JJB Stadium.

Scharner told his club’s official website: “I have never hidden my ambition as a player. That is what has been driving me forwards all my career. I believe that in order to progress you have to be totally dedicated to what you do.

“I feel that the club has really progressed over the last few months. They got the opportunity to appoint a really top coach and that is what happened when Steve [Bruce] arrived.

“Now I feel the club has another opportunity to really progress this season and I want to be a part of that.

“It is fantastic that we have managed to keep hold of the best performers in the team this summer and to bring in some real quality acquisitions. Now we all need to move forward together in the future and I am very happy to say I will be here to enjoy the ride!”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that the signing Amaury Bischoff is a ‘gamble’.

The French midfielder joined the Gunners from SV Werder Bremen yesterday for an undisclosed fee.

Wenger said: “Amaury is a young, promising player who we have taken a gamble on because he has been out for a long time.

“We have to get him to a very good fitness level. He has talent but we’ll have to wait two or three months to get him competitive.

“He has had two surgeries on his groin so it is a gamble on his talent.”