GEORGE Graham may sweep into White Hart Lane as the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur in time for tomorrow's clash with Leeds United, his current club.

But as Graham glides in, a clutch of Spurs stars may go in the opposite direction, one of whom is likely to be David Ginola, the flamboyant Frenchman.

Ginola is not characteristic of the type of player that Graham likes in his sides. He takes risks, runs endlessly with the ball and is not as defensively minded as perhaps he should be.

Ginola's departure would certainly upset many Tottenham fans. Since his arrival from Newcastle United, for £2.6 million, he has almost single-handedly kept them in the top flight, playing some of his best football last season and finishing as the club's top scorer for the 1997/1998 FA Carling Premiership season. In the early part of this season, he has also been on top of his game.

But Graham's arrival seems almost guaranteed, although this Saturday might be too early for him. David Pleat, the Tottenham director of football, said: "The rumours have got out and I may as well confirm that we have approached Leeds United for the services of Mr Graham. It is now a case of the chairmen talking to each other and, obviously, having made that approach, we are very hopeful that Mr Graham's arrival comes to fruition."

Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chief executive, is set to meet Alan Sugar, the Spurs chairman, on Saturday for lunch while he is in London for the match between the two sides. Who Graham will be supporting from the si

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