Etherington: Wants first-team football (MikeFinn-Kelcey/Allsport)

Soccernet understands that Spurs have also snubbed two recent bids from Premiership clubs for the England Under-21 international.

They are not prepared to do business for Etherington until they receive an offer that meets their £2 million valuation of the player.

Etherington hauled Spurs level against Everton by scoring their first goal in the 2-2 Premiership draw at Goodison Park on Saturday, but he does not believe he has a future at White Hart Lane because he is not guaranteed first-team football.

Sources close to Etherington insist he handed in a transfer demand earlier this summer, but Spurs dispute this, claiming it was not signed by him. They rejected it out of hand.

Spurs are understood to have turned down a £750,000 bid from Southampton and, more recently, a higher bid from Charlton. But neither offer came close to matching Spurs' valuation, even though the former Peterborough player has not been a first-team regular since Glenn Hoddle was appointed manager in April last year.

However, Etherington knows he is certain to make way for German international Christian Ziege once he recovers from his ankle injury and Etherington's advisers fear he is being priced out of the market.

Meanwhile, Rob Clare snubbed a £500,000 move to White Hart Lane today by admitting he would rather play for Second Division Stockport than rot in Tottenham's reserve team.

Spurs have been tracking the versatile 19-year-old defender since he broke into the Stockport team 18 months ago.

Hoddle is on the look-out for defensive reinforcements following the hamstring injury to Stephen Carr on Saturday.

But Clare said: 'I'd rather play games for Stockport than turn out for the youth team at some Premiership club.'