INT Tottenham Hotspur

[TXT]

Redknapp firmly rules out Bale exit

Harry Redknapp has reiterated that Tottenham will not countenance a sale of Gareth Bale at any price.

Bale is one of the most talked about players in Europe, having twice this season tormented European champions Inter Milan in the Champions League. His form in the Premier League has been of a consistently high standard and his wicked left foot has seen him become the subject of widespread transfer speculation.

It was claimed this week that Inter were readying a summer bid believed to be in the region of £40 million, although this was swiftly played down by the Serie A giants. The chatter has not been missed by Redknapp and he has once again made it clear that Tottenham have no intention of selling a player they bought for £5 million from Southampton in 2007.

"We won't be selling Gareth Bale in the summer, it's up to the chairman but I'd be very surprised if we were interested in selling him at any price," Redknapp said. "You have special players in your team and if we're going to be a top team you've got to keep your top players, you can't be selling Gareth Bale.

"You've got three or four players who can make a difference and he's one of those players. And, if you lose him, you can't replace him. Where are you going to replace him? You go and get one from here, one from there, another one.

"When he gets the ball something happens, he can do something that no one else can do. We can't afford to lose him."

Redknapp has revealed that midfielder Tom Huddlestone has suffered a setback in his bid to return from the ankle injury that has sidelined him since September.

"Tom's had a setback and it seems he's going to be longer than we expected," Redknapp said. "His ankle is sore. He tried to do a bit of running and is still a long way away.

"We will have to look at his situation with regard to the 25-man squad. I am hoping he'll be okay as he is important to us and is a fantastic player."

 

[TXT]

Spurs fail with £25m Carroll bid

Tottenham Hotspur have failed with a reported offer of £25 million for Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll.

Harry Redknapp has been linked with a move for the England international, 22, for much of January and it is understood that Spurs firmed up their interest with a formal offer.

However, Newcastle rejected the bid, reported to be in the region of £25 million, and have instructed Tottenham they do not want to lose Carroll before the transfer window closes.

The striker, who travelled to Sweden on Friday to address a troublesome thigh injury, has scored 11 goals for the club this season.

Carroll's impressive form for the Magpies saw him win his first international cap in the game between England and France in November.

 

[TXT]

Spurs try to pry Parker from Hammers

West Ham have rejected a last-ditch bid by Spurs to snatch Scott Parker in exchange for Robbie Keane. The Hammers are still hoping to sign Keane, although negotiations are now sure to run until the final day of the transfer window on Monday.

ESPNsoccernet has been told that the Keane deal with Spurs will be concluded over the weekend and the deal signed on Monday morning.

But West Ham were forced to tell Spurs "no" for the third time regarding Parker, as Harry Redknapp has twice before tried to capture the midfielder. Redknapp was desperate to bring in his long-term target and offered £8 million plus the £6 million-rated Keane, but again West Ham turned them down, even though Spurs might have also thrown in Jamie O'Hara as part of the package.

West Ham want to take Keane on loan, paying a £1 million fee, with a view to a permanent deal on the condition that the Hammers stay in the Premier League at the end of the season. Spurs want a £6 million fee even if they go down, and that issue is the final piece of negotiations.

West Ham United chairman David Gold confirmed the move to sign Keane before the close of the transfer window, having also signed striker Demba Ba from Hoffenheim.

"Robbie Keane is a player we greatly admire. He is clearly available and quality players rarely are," Gold said. "We see him as a potential acquisition. We are looking at all players that are available from top-quality clubs.

"David Sullivan (West Ham's co-chairman) was up until the early hours of the morning still pursuing targets that we have. It will probably go right to the wire. We like to think we don't leave a stone unturned. Our people will go the extra mile to do whatever it takes to try to bring in players that otherwise you wouldn't get if you didn't pursue."

West Ham have also rejected moves by promotion-seeking Cardiff to bring Wales defender Danny Gabbidon home. Cardiff boss Dave Jones wanted the 37-times capped player - who spent five years with the Bluebirds. Cardiff offered £250,000 but it was instantly turned down.

Sunderland have indicated they would offer £3.5 million for Frederic Piquionne, which was also immediately rejected by West Ham. The offer arrived via an agent but was dismissed out of hand by the Hammers.

 

[TXT]

Jamie O'Hara joins Wolves

Wolves have signed Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara on loan for the remainder of the season.

The Midlands club formally announced the capture of O'Hara following their FA Cup defeat at the hands of Stoke City.

The 24-year-old had a spell on loan at Portsmouth last season but has not featured at first-team level at White Hart Lane this season because of a back injury.

The former England Under-21 international featured in two recent full-scale practice matches with Spurs and was eager to go out on loan again in order to regain full match sharpness.

West Ham were also interested in signing O'Hara but were beaten in the battle to secure to his services.

 

[TXT]

Fulham 4 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Murphy spot on for Fulham

Fulham cruised into the last 16 of the FA Cup with an impressive 4-0 demolition of London rivals Tottenham at Craven Cottage.

The result of the match had been determined by half-time after Fulham had raced into a four-goal advantage by the break.

Danny Murphy scored from the spot 11 minutes in after Alan Hutton barged down Clint Dempsey in the box.

The Cottagers captain, who signed a new deal with the club on Friday, added a second penalty three minutes later after Michael Dawson was sent off for tugging back Moussa Dembele in the box.

Brede Hangeland stabbed home to make it 3-0 before Dembele rifled home a blistering strike just before half-time to seal the impressive win.

The win will provide another morale boost for Mark Hughes' resurgent side but will raise serious questions about Tottenham's ability to challenge for honours, particularly given that Harry Redknapp fielded arguably his strongest team available.

Gareth Bale was out due to a back injury but Redknapp named an XI that included the likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Steven Pienaar and Heurelho Gomes, who returned in goal after a shoulder injury kept him out of last week's draw at Newcastle.

Fulham, who had lost twice to Spurs already this year, replaced Chris Baird with Carlos Salcido in the only change from the XI that lost to Liverpool in midweek.

After a dull opening 10 minutes, the game sparked into life when Salcido robbed the careless Dawson 30 yards out before Hutton barged over Dempsey in the box as he raced towards goal.

Referee Phil Dowd blew for a penalty and Murphy fired the spot-kick to Gomes' right to put Fulham 1-0 up.

Dawson's match went from bad to worse two minutes later when he dithered on the ball just inside his own area. Dembele pinched the ball off Dawson before the England centre-half tried to yank the striker back by his shirt.

Dowd dismissed the former Nottingham Forest man before Murphy beat Gomes, this time to the goalkeeper's left, from 12 yards.

Buoyed by their excellent start, Fulham looked for a third goal and it came after 23 minutes.

Andrew Johnson flicked on Damien Duff's corner and the ball found Hangeland at the back post. With Gomes stranded, the Norwegian made no mistake from three yards.

Sensing Tottenham could crumble, Redknapp sent on William Gallas for Sandro but Spurs still looked weak at the back.

Luka Modric fizzed a shot wide from long distance and Van der Vaart went into the book after clattering into Murphy from behind just before the half-hour mark.

Fulham made their numerical advantage count by dominating play. Johnson raced at the Tottenham defence as the first half came to a close but his shot fell straight into Gomes' hands.

Dembele then rounded off an incredible first half for the hosts with a fourth goal when he strode past Sebastien Bassong and fired a sublime 20-yard strike past Gomes.

Redknapp brought on Peter Crouch for Defoe at the break as Spurs looked to get back into the game.

Crouch's introduction had little effect though as Fulham started the second period the stronger of the two sides.

Johnson flicked a header just wide of Gomes' goal from a John Pantsil cross.

At the other end David Stockdale had his first test of the half, saving a tame Sebastien Bassong header from Aaron Lennon's cross.

Dempsey's 25-yard curling shot caused Gomes to pull off an impressive save low down to his right just after the hour mark.

Dembele then skipped past two markers before Bassong blocked the striker's goal-bound effort from eight yards.

A fifth Fulham goal looked inevitable as they laid siege to the Spurs goal.

Dempsey raced at the Tottenham back four and beat Gomes from 25 yards but his rising strike flew over the Tottenham goal.

Redknapp brought the ineffective Van der Vaart off, bringing on Jermaine Jenas, and Mark Hughes took Johnson off and introduced Zoltan Gera.

Pienaar was lucky not to be booked when he hacked down Duff after 71 minutes.

Murphy received a standing ovation when he departed two minutes later to be replaced by Jonathan Greening.

The home crowd taunted their north London rivals as they struggled to get hold of the ball.

The match's tempo had dropped to that of a practice match by the time Simon Davies replaced Dembele with 10 minutes left.

A rare move down the Tottenham right allowed Hutton to cross for Crouch but the England striker was muscled off the ball by Pantsil.

Fulham almost had a fifth in the 87th minute when Aaron Hughes' glanced header hit the bar from Duff's corner.

Gera had a golden chance a minute later but Gomes saved with his feet from the Hungarian's 12-yard shot and Fulham had to settle for four.

 

[TXT]

Redknapp denies Aguero rumours

Harry Redknapp has dismissed reports Tottenham Hotspur have had a club-record £38 million bid for Sergio Aguero rejected by Atletico Madrid.

Widespread reports claimed Spurs' alleged bid matched a buy-out clause in the Argentina striker's contract but with neither club willing to pay the £10 million tax due on the deal, it stalled.

Redknapp's attacking options, which drew a blank against Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday, have been depleted following the departure of Robbie Keane to West Ham but the Spurs boss insists he expects to do little business on transfer deadline day and denied he had made a bid for Auguero.

"Sergio Aguero? No. I don't know anything at all about that one," Redknapp told Sky Sports. "It would surprise us all if that happened. I don't think there is anything in that one at all.

"I don't think you'll be seeing a lot of action today. It'll all be happening elsewhere today."

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo refuted suggestions that Spurs had made a bid for Aguero, 22, and said it would be "unthinkable" to let either the Argentine or strike partner Diego Forlan, who has also been linked with Tottenham, leave the Vicente Calderon.

"Players play where they want to play and Kun and Forlan want to play at Atletico Madrid. We have no offers and we are not a selling club," he said.

"We want to continue with the players that have served us so well, that have brought us success and that are great players. It is unthinkable that Kun [Auguero] could leave Atletico Madrid."

Redknapp pulled off the biggest coup of the last transfer window when he was successful in an 11th hour bid for Rafael van der Vaart. The Spurs manager have been linked with a host of strikers in Spain over the last 24 hours.

Villarreal star Giuseppe Rossi, Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente and Sevilla hitman Alvaro Negredo are all said to be on Redknapp's radar but he is pessimistic about his club's chances of signing either of the trio.

"Rossi is a fantastic player but I wouldn't have thought so. Negredo is a top player. Llorente? We'd have all of them. They would improve us but I can't see any of them being here," Redknapp added.

"I should be going home after training today. I don't tend to be sticking around here until 11 o'clock if nothing's happening."

 

[krkic]

aguero nop masuk ke??
best2..

 

[TXT]

aguero nop masuk ke??
best2..

dok jadi la boh
dia da sign kontrak 5 thn ngan atletico

 

[TXT]

Blackburn 0 - 1 Tottenham

Crouch keeps Spurs on course

Peter Crouch`s fourth-minute goal was enough to keep Tottenham in sight of a Champions League place with a 1-0 victory against Blackburn.

It was a huge boost for manager Harry Redknapp given how many of his players were either injured or suspended.

Crouch got the all-important goal when he rose above Chris Samba and headed Rafael van der Vaart`s cross into the corner.

Tottenham defender William Gallas shrugged off a groin injury and took his place in the team alongside Sebastien Bassong, meaning Jonathan Woodgate was only needed for bench duty.

Anurudha Desai, chairwoman of the club's owners Venkys, took in her first Blackburn match and in a message to fans thanked them for their support.

Tottenham were without new signing Steven Pienaar after he suffered concussion during a training session yesterday.

However, despite their injury problems the visitors made a perfect start and took the lead in the fourth minute.

Tottenham won a free-kick 20 yards out in the 29th minute after Samba had upended Jermaine Defoe as he tried to skip into the area.

Van der Vaart stepped up but only succeeded in flighting his effort over the bar.

Back came Blackburn and Heurelho Gomes again looked uncomfortable when he dropped a shot from David Dunn, only to recover just in time.

Dunn then came close to scoring in the 36th minute, clipping his effort wide of the post following a sweeping move involving Martin Olsson and Jason Roberts.

Tottenham were being pinned back and a minute later Ryan Nelsen headed wide following a corner from Dunn, before Vedran Corluka almost headed into his own net after Roberts had flicked the ball on.

The visitors were finding it hard going trying to hang on to their lead with Redknapp a constant visitor to his technical area.

They launched a quick counter attack in the 43rd minute when Van der Vaart tried to release Aaron Lennon but he was crowded out in the penalty area.

Blackburn again came close to equalising in stoppage time when Nelsen got on the end of Dunn's free-kick but headed over.

Van der Vaart delivered a cross into the area and Crouch got above Samba and headed into the corner.

Samba was left distraught after a good start to the day when it was confirmed he had signed a contract extension until 2015.

Blackburn responded and Jermaine Jones saw his effort blocked and the rebound fell to Junior Hoilett. However his effort was cleared by Crouch carrying out his defensive duties.

Tottenham suffered another scare when Gomes flapped at a long ball from his opposite number and it fell to Hoilett but he hit it into the ground.

This was a good spell by Blackburn and Dunn's instinctive shot from the edge of the area went narrowly over the bar.

Blackburn started the second half brightly and Gomes palmed away a shot by Mame Biram Diouf from an acute angle following Jones' throughball in the 46th minute.

Although Tottenham were finding it hard going they continued to look good on the counter-attack.

And in the 55th minute Corluka delivered a good ball to the back post but Samba got the better of Crouch to head clear.

A minute later Jermain Defoe squandered a great chance following a surging run by Lennon through the heart of Blackburn's defence.

Lennon laid the ball off to an unmarked Defoe but his effort was beaten away by Robinson.

Lennon was becoming increasingly influential and Paul Robinson reacted superbly to turn the winger's thunderbolt over the bar in the 61st minute.

Blackburn manager Steve Kean then freshened things up four minutes later by bringing on Steven Nzonzi for Jones, who looked tired.

However, Kean's idea to bring off Dunn two minutes later and bring on Morten Gamst Pedersen did not go down too well with a section of the crowd.

Blackburn stepped up the pace and Gomes came to Tottenham`s rescue twice in quick succession. He kept out a powerful effort by Diouf in the 72nd minute, and three minutes later blocked a driven free-kick from Pedersen.

Then Jenas got a vital touch in stoppage time to divert Samba`s goalbound header to safety.

 

[TXT]

Redknapp: We won't catch Chelsea

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp saw his side keep in sight of a Champions League place but believes they have little chance of overtaking Chelsea.

The result was a boost for Redknapp given he had lost two players in Luka Modric and Steven Pienaar 24 hours before the game.

Redknapp said: "I picked the team yesterday morning and I lost two of them. Luka had a pain in his stomach and needed an appendix operation.

"As for Pienaar ... the other South African (Bongani Khumalo) thought his head was the ball and knocked him unconscious in training. We had to change it again. We were an attacking team, an open team.

"For us to finish above them would be a real feat. They have spent about £70 million in the transfer market. We have just got to keep going and it would be a fantastic achievement.

"I would not write Chelsea off from winning the championship. Although Manchester United look as though they keep getting results they are not playing as well as they have done in the past.

"They are red-hot favourites but Chelsea have won the championship and have Torres to come in. They could go on a run and be a big danger to everyone.''

Meanwhile Redknapp revealed that Ledley King's operation would be delayed until next week - after he lost his passport. Redknapp said: "He should have had his operation today. He could not make it. Why? It is a long story. (It's) next week now.

"He could not find his passport, so he could not fly out to have it done. He mislaid it. He was going to see a lady in Germany.''

Blackburn manager Steve Kean was left cursing his luck. He said: "If you look at the stats we had 17 attempts and 11 on target. The lads would even have been disappointed with a point after the chances we had. I think the crowd got edgy but I hope they enjoyed the type of football we played.

"We were caught cold for the first goal but were totally in control for the rest of the game. At the end Chris's header looks like it is going in but it hits Jenas and goes over. So they have certainly been peppered as the shots came in thick and fast.''