Harry's reality check
HARRY Redknapp found out this week just how hard it will be to recruit a top player to the Lane. The Spurs boss lost out on Aston Villa s Gareth Barry on Tuesday afternoon when the midfielder signed for Manchester City for �12million. Redknapp had been ho
HARRY Redknapp found out this week just how hard it will be to recruit a top player to the Lane.
The Spurs boss lost out on Aston Villa's Gareth Barry on Tuesday afternoon when the midfielder signed for Manchester City for �12million.
Redknapp had been hoping the lure of London and lucrative contracts would attract the big names to help the Lilywhites break into the top four next season.
"I am not looking to make major changes but if you get one or two very, very good players in, it would make a big difference," said Redknapp. "We just need to move the team up another notch. Daniel [Levy] is just as keen as me to push on."
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But Tottenham, who spent �42million in the January transfer window, will have to sell several players to help finance more new faces at the Lane.
Strikers Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko, along with midfielders David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas, could be shown the door during the summer.
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Bent, who cost �16million from Charlton in 2007, has made no secret that he wants to play regular first-team football after scoring 17 goals.
Pavlyuchenko did himself no favours by storming down the tunnel after being substituted against Manchester City last month. "I don't like that," Redknapp said at the time.
Redknapp has also hinted that Bentley, who finished the run-in on the bench, is surplus to requirements. Jenas, who has yet to win over the majority of the Lane fans, could move abroad and Huddlestone has been linked with several clubs.
Spurs started the culling this week by releasing Portuguese centre-back Ricardo Rocha after his contract expired. The 30-year-old defender joined Spurs two and a half years ago but struggled to hold down a regular place, making only 18 appearances.
And reserves Simon Dawkins, Kyle Fraser-Allen, Cian Hughton, Danny Hutchins, David Hutton, Jacques Maghoma and Takura Mtandari have also been released, along with Academy players Saulo Asajile, Mark Clare, James Dalton and Ajet Shehu.
