Tottenham eyeing shock £5m White Hart Lane return for Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson of Blackburn (Getty Images)

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By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Tottenham are eyeing up a shock White Hart Lane return for Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Goal.com UK can reveal.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp wants top-level competition for current No.1 Heurelho Gomes, whose kicking has been affected by groin injuries in the last two years.

Gomes’ deputy Carlo Cudicini, who has stood in for the Brazilian in eight games this season and replaced him when he was injured and sent off in two others, is out of contract in the summer.

Robinson has rebuilt his career since joining Blackburn for £3.5 million in 2008 after his confidence was shattered in his final season at Spurs and he lost his England place.

Although the 31-year-old has since retired from international football, he still has ambitions to play for a Champions League calibre club.

He has been linked with Liverpool, who are considering replacements in the event of the £20m release clause in the contract of Pepe Reina being triggered in the summer.

But it is understood that interest in Robinson is strongest from Spurs and Aston Villa, who are on the look-out for a new No.1 with veteran Brad Friedel set to return to America in the summer.

His top-level experience with England, for whom he won 41 caps, and in the Champions League with Leeds United, as well as his consistent form for Rovers, is viewed as attractive to both clubs.

Blackburn would want £5m for Robinson, whose contract at Ewood Park runs until 2013.

It is believed that the Yorkshireman would be willing to return to London, because his main family home is in the south-east and he has some business interests in the capital.

But Robinson would need some convincing that Spurs would be the right career option, given the criticism he endured in his final season at White Hart Lane and the presence of Gomes at the club.

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