Middlesbrough centre half Jonathan Woodgate was completing his transfer to Tottenham today, Sportsmail has learned.Reports indicated that Arsenal had swooped for the 28-year-old England defender, making Boro an offer £1million in excess of their north London rival's £6m bid.Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, however, has moved to rubbish those reports, saying: "I do not know where that story came from. There is no truth in it at all."We have never been in touch with Middlesbrough about Jonathan Woodgate." The former Leeds, Newcastle and Real Madrid star - who will be available for next month's Carling Cup Final against Chelsea at Wembley - underwent a medical at White Hart Lane and shook hands with Spurs officials at the weekend before returning to Teesside. Sportsmail understands he was today travelling back to London by train to seal the deal with Tottenham sporting director Damien Comolli.Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said: "We've agreed a fee with Tottenham and as far as I'm aware he went down at the weekend to have a medical and we're just waiting to see."Newcastle had also had a bid accepted by their north-east neighbours but Woodgate was never keen on a second spell at St James' Park.
Kieren Fallon's career as a top-flight jockey seemed doomed last night after the French authorities banned him for 18 months. The troubled rider, who will not be able to ride competitively until August 2009, will appeal against the worldwide suspension for being caught riding while under the influence of drugs for a second time, but his future as stable jockey to Aidan O'Brien and the powerful Coolmore Stud looks over.
Last night Coolmore spokesman Richard Henry insisted that no changes were planned but bookmakers were already betting on the new O'Brien No 1 jockey with Johnny Murtagh cut from 5-2 to 6-4 favourite by William Hill following strong support.
Others linked with the job include Seamus Heffernan, Christophe Soumillon and Jamie Spencer.
Henry said: 'This is a personal matter for Kieren and for us there is no change. We will continue to use the best available on the day.'Fallon, 42, tested positive for cocaine after winning on Myboycharlie in the Prix Morny at Deauville in August. He also tested positive for the drug at Chantilly in June 2006, leading to a six-month ban.
In December, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Fallon had failed a second drugs test a day after he walked free from the Old Bailey after being acquitted of race-fixing charges.In the run-up to that trial, Fallon was banned from riding in Britain after his arrest by the City Of London Police on September 1, 2006.
Despite the pressure of knowing he had to attend the Old Bailey the following morning, Fallon won the 2007 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe on Dylan Thomas in October.That conceivably could be his last professional ride, although he will be still young enough to stage a comeback when his ban is over. America could be an option.
Arsene Wenger's young Gunners were on the receiving end of a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of their arch-rivals, which saw an angry confrontation between the two Arsenal strikers towards the end of the match.
The incident is now being investigated by the Football Association, who have requested relevant television footage after referee Howard Webb confirmed he did not witness the whole event.
Adebayor - who was handed a four-match ban after being sent off just minutes after coming on in last season's Carling Cup final defeat to Chelsea - accepts tempers were allowed to boil over in the heated atmosphere, and offered an unreserved apology for his actions.
"I am sorry for the disagreement with my team-mate Nicklas," Adebayor said on the club's official website. "We are both passionate about this club and sometimes that can be projected in the wrong way.
"It was a mistake. We want to focus on the games ahead and rely on our squad's great togetherness to achieve a fantastic season."
Adebayor - who was handed a four-match ban after being sent off just minutes after coming on in last season's Carling Cup final defeat to Chelsea - accepts tempers were allowed to boil over in the heated atmosphere, and offered an unreserved apology for his actions.
"I think that we should have been more calm during the game and although I was pleased to get a goal back for the team when I came on, I am sorry for the disagreement with my team-mate Nicklas," Adebayor said on the club's official website.
"We are both passionate about this club and sometimes that can be projected in the wrong way.
"It was a mistake. We want to focus on the games ahead and rely on our squad's great togetherness to achieve a fantastic season."
The Adebayor, 23, has been in fine form for the Gunners, with his goal on Tuesday night when coming off the bench a 16th of the campaign.
Adebayor firmly believes the events at White Hart Lane will not unsettle Arsene Wenger's squad, which remains very much in the hunt for honours.
The Togo striker said: "We are a strong unit and what happened last night against Spurs will strengthen our desire and determination to compete for other targets."
Skipper Gallas has called for "upset" Arsenal to unite from their disappointment - and knock revitalised Newcastle out of the FA Cup this weekend.
Wenger reflected afterwards the defeat was all part of the "learning process" and maintained he had "no regrets" about selection policy in a competition which is clearly not the Gunners' main priority.
However, the likes of skipper Gallas, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb, Gilberto and Adebayor, all featured at some stage - but their experience could not, on this occasion, help bring the best out of the likes of Justin Hoyte, Abou Diaby, Bendtner and a particularly disappointing Theo Walcott.
Gallas, though, insists now is the time to look forwards and not reflect on what might have been as the Gunners saw their near nine-year unbeaten run against Spurs come to an abrupt end.
"All the young boys wanted to go to Wembley and I know it is difficult to accept," said the French defender.
"The fans are upset and we are upset. All the club are upset - and we have to accept it.
"Now we have to be strong and forget everything because on Saturday we have another big game which will not be easy."
Steve McClaren claims a lack of depth in top quality players cost him his job.It was England's failure to qualify for this summer's European Championships that ultimately forced the FA to act, but McClaren believes this was due to a lack of cover for his injured first-choice players. And the former Middlesbrough manager believes the dearth of English talent has now reached unacceptable levels. Speaking in the United States, McClaren said: "10-15 years ago we could have a pool of 35, 40 players all roughly the same standard. And that has slowly dwindled down to a number which isn't acceptable."We look at our Premier League and the feeding grounds where English players come from and we find it's inundated with foreign players. I think the last count was 38% of English players play in the Premier League and a very small percentage are playing for the top four and in the Champions League. "The Champions League is where you have to play to get the experience for international football, but we've got too few players playing in Europe, playing in the Champions League. "When we lose those players we struggle for experience." McClaren has certainly changed his tune from the day he was appointed. In the summer of 2006 he claimed that his aim during his four-year contract was to "win a major trophy". And McClaren claims the lack of emerging talent was the reason behind his decision to recall David Beckham after excluding the former captain from his first squad.He said of Beckham's recall: "No one really took the mantle and emerged on that right hand side from the young kids coming though. I know he was very, very disappointed, but he's professional and knows things like that happen in football. And what does he do? He gets on with it and proves people wrong." McClaren is also confident that Beckham, currently training with the Arsenal first team squad, will earn a much deserved 100th cap under new boss Fabio Capello. He said: "I believe he will get his 100th cap. And then it's up to him and the performances he puts in whether he gets any more."
