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Palace prospect Bostock 'to join Spurs'

30/05/2008

Tottenham Hotspur have claimed a deal has been agreed for them to sign Crystal Palace's promising youngster John Bostock.

The 16-year-old midfielder, who has made five appearances for the Championship club including two starts, has attracted the interest of a number of top-flight clubs in recent months.

It seems Spurs have won the race to sign the England youth international, who only made his senior debut for Palace last October.

But Palace have refuted suggestions from White Hart Lane that Bostock has already agreed to a move across the capital.

A statement on the Eagles' club website reads: "Contrary to reports from Tottenham Hotspur FC regarding John Bostock joining the north London club, Crystal Palace FC would like to announce that no agreement has been reached for the services of the 16-year-old and he is still registered with Crystal Palace Football Club."

However, Tottenham's sporting director Damien Comolli has already spoken on the signing, saying he is "very pleased" Bostock has opted to join Spurs ahead of a number of other prospective Premier League destinations.

"We know he has the talent but we also know he is only 16 and so we will not rush him," Comolli said.

"He will have time to develop and will be working within a very talented development squad."

Bostock himself is quoted by Spurs as saying: "I am definitely ready to make this move and Spurs is the team I wanted to join.

"I feel this is a club with a great future and this is where I want to be to develop my potential and improve as a player."

If the deal is confirmed, the youngster would become Tottenham's second confirmed signing of the summer after they agreed a deal with Dinamo Zagreb to sign highly rated Croatian international Luka Modric last month.