Home > Football > The Spurs transfer riddle that only Redknapp can answer
by Philip Smith on 11 July 2009
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Six weeks gone, a little over six weeks to go – and we're still waiting for Harry Redknapp to make a move in the transfer market.
I was surprised to see the other day that Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with no fewer than 106 players since the last ball of the 2008-09 season was kicked.
What surprised me even more was that someone would actually know that (or were they guessing?)
As one of the more energetic wheeler-dealers in the Premier League over the years, and especially in his days at Portsmouth, Redknapp has never shown a reluctance to dive into the market, clearing out players who might not have come up to his expectations and bringing in new blood.
And he's never been afraid to spend big where necessary.
Have Spurs fans any reason to be worried? Has 'Arry Boy been given a “pot” to play with by chairman Daniel Levy, or is there a spot of belt-tightening going on at White Hart Lane?
Only two Premier League clubs have failed to sign any new players so far this summer – and Spurs are one of them.
Perhaps it's an indication of Redknapp's intent that he has sold midfielder Didier Zokora to Sevilla and defender Danny Hutchins to Yeovil Town, where he spent most of last season on loan, both for undisclosed fees.
Three other players have also been released, which means they are no longer on the payroll. Indications are that Redknapp is prepared to listen to genuine and realistic offers for Darren Bent, David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas, collectively worth bout £30million.
The big question is whether they have to be sold before the manager is given money for a fresh excursion into the transfer market.
Even Roman Pavlyuchenko's agent reckons the Russian striker has seen enough of England and wouldn't mind going home.
Adel Taarabat, the 20-year-old Moroccan striker, is also anxious to leave, and has questioned Redknapp's decision not to let him go to Spanish club Malaga on a loan-to-buy deal.
It remains a matter of great concern that Ledley King is unlikely to figure in more than 20 Premier League games this coming season, and that is why Redknapp has targeted Stoke City's rising young central defender Ryan Shawcross as a possible candidate to line up alongside Jonathan Woodgate.
And it wouldn't surprise anyone if Redknapp went back to Portsmouth for Peter Crouch, especially is he loses Bent, or Pavlyuchenko, or Bentley - or even all three.
Spurs have missed out on one player they would undoubtedly liked to sign, and that's Frazier Campbell, the Manchester United youngster they've had on loan but who now seems destined to join Sunderland. If he does, it will leave Spurs as the only club in the Premier League yet to make a signing.
But by signing Campbell, Sunderland might be inclined to respond to Redknapp's interest in Kenwyne Jones. This sounds a distinct possibility.
He hasn't shown his hand yet, but you can bet that Redknapp will be turning rumour into reality before very long.
Comments (7)
by THFC 4 LIFE on July 12, 2009
Where did you get the idea we "would undoubtedly liked to sign" Fraizer Campbell? He was pony last season & we did not even think about trying to keep him at the Lane, so I have no clue where you got that idea from. Also, we don't have to wait for funds. We have made several bids on players but it is not as easy as just bidding on someone & watch them arrive unfortunately. Finally, as far as I am aware, Stoke are still yet to make a move in the transfer market.
by Steve Bott on July 13, 2009
Come on Phil everyone knows Harry is the biggest bung merchant in the business. He's got FIVE houses on that exclusive belt of land in Poole ALL paid for with bung money!!! That's why Spurs are linked with all those players - the more he ferries in and out the bigger his bank balances grow! He could double up and make a fortune if he went into money laundering too!
by Philip Smith on July 13, 2009
You;re an old cinic Botty!
You're an old cinic Botty!
by gylan calder on July 15, 2009
kenwyne jones and peter crouch would be sideways steps for spurs, definite lack of ambition if we sign those 2; we've bought players with similar records before i.e. bently, bent, jenas, etc with mediocre results. dos santos should be given a proper chance (if he's still there) and we should be looking to spain, germany and italy for the players who'll give us a chance of breaking the top 4, or even challenging everton!!
by Botty on July 15, 2009
I know and its cynic you doddery old sub!!!!!
by stephen gargan on July 17, 2009
I think the change in our transfer policy is a good thing we have dived in and signed players to quickly with disappointing results in the past. Once we started playing a settled team last year we were a match for anyone so its not as if we have to sell the whole squad and start again as has been reported in the media. I think Harry will sign 3 - 5 players and no more and if he can't who he wants then he won't sign players he isn't sure on and i don't think anymore than 3 - 5 players will leave possibly Chimbonda, Bentley, Taarabt, Dos santos and either Pav or Bent none of which figured under harry during are good run of end towards the end.
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