Tottenham to tempt Campbell with big money

Tottenham are to break the bank to try and keep captain Sol Campbell at the club.

A £30,000 a week pay raise will make the 24 year old England international one of the highest earners in the Premiership as the London fight to hang onto their young star.

Campbell is a definite target for Manchester United with Real Madrid also linked with a summer bid for the centre back.

After the 1998 World Cup AS Roma and Inter Milan made unsuccessful bids to sign Campbell and Liverpool have also watched the player's long running contract talks with Tottenham.

The new offer over four years is intended to prevent Campbell quitting the club at the end of the year under the Bosman ruling and signing to play for a new club from summer 2001 - losing Tottenham at least £15 million in a transfer fee.

The latest offer would see Campbell earn at least £45,000 a week and deter any immediate bidders if the player agreed to stay at Tottenham. Talks with the player are expected to go on until the end of the season but £45,000 is the top offer from Tottenham.