Catania defender Nicolas Spolli has confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur had made a formal offer for him on transfer deadline day.

The Argentine was understood to be the subject of a £7m bid from the north London outfit on 2 September but the Serie A side rejected the approach, as the 32-year-old had already informed club president Antonino Pulvirenti that he did not want to leave Sicily this season.

"I had told the president that I wanted to remain in Catania as soon as last season came to a close, before there was any talk of transfers. When the interest from Tottenham came in, the club didn't even need to ask me, because they knew what my intentions were. I am happy in Catania, it's a wonderful city and when I have the time it's incredible to enjoy both the sea and Etna," the centre-back pointed out.

Nicolas Spolli
Spurs tried to sign Spolli (L) on deadline day (Reuters)

Spolli, who joined Catania from native side Newell's Old Boys back in 2009, has made 112 Serie A appearances for the club so far, netting five times. Roma and Inter Milan were also reportedly keen on signing the defender this year.

Tottenham had signed Romanian centre-back Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucuresti for a fee around £8.5m last month. However, with question marks over the recent performances of Michael Dawson and the fitness issues surrounding Younes Kaboul, Andre Villas-Boas wanted to snap up another central defender, before the window shut, to partner Jan Vertonghen.

Meanwhile, former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown has criticised Spurs' wing-back Kyle Walker for his performance for England against Ukraine in the World Cup qualifier game in Kiev Tuesday.

The Three Lions held the home side to the stalemate to stay top of Group H but Keown was not impressed by the Tottenham man, who struggled to contain Ukraine winger Yevhen Konoplyanka throughout the match.

"Kyle Walker had a torrid time against Yevhen Konoplyanka. The 23-year-old Dnipro man is incredibly fast and Walker struggled with that. The Tottenham defender is used to relying on his pace to get him out of trouble but Konoplyanka was faster than him. He has to read the danger earlier, otherwise he'll give more free-kicks away in dangerous positions like in the second half," the 47-year-old stressed.

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