Gunter be a (lilly)white Christmas

Cardiff City has given permission for Tottenham to open talks with Welsh full-back Chris Gunter. The 18-year-old Welsh international has been the subject of several bids from the club and Cardiff chairman, Peter Risdale, felt the offer from Tottenham was too good to turn down.

Gunter, who has impressed for club and country this season, is comfortable playing at right-back and left-back and his performances for Wales, for whom he has three caps, have led to inevitable comparisons with Tottenham's own Welsh wonder-kid, Gareth Bale. With Bale and team-mate Benoit Assou Ekotto both out with long term injuries, Gunter looks set to bolster Juande Ramos' options on the left side of defence.

In May Gunter became Wales' youngest ever international when he faced New Zealand at the age of 17. After being informed of a 'considerable' bid from Tottenham, Gunter asked to be allowed to discuss terms and is believed to be in talks with Tottenham officials as we speak.

If the young Welsh full-back signs it will be a clear indication that the sacking of Martin Jol has done little to deter the club in it's determination to bring the most exciting young talent to White Hart Lane. The fee is not yet known but Risdale hinted that it may well be fairly high, saying: "I think with the price itself we would have had to consider it no matter what the situation was financially."

The club have also been heavily linked with a move for Middlesbrough's left-winger Adam Johnson although little is known as to whether any interest has been made concrete yet.