HARRY Redknapp has announced that he hates the January transfer window – despite having signed 19 players in the last five winter sales. The 62-year-old Spurs boss has built a reputation as an expert dealer in the transfer market...

By Ben Pearce

HARRY Redknapp has announced that he hates the January transfer window - despite having signed 19 players in the last five winter sales.

The 62-year-old Spurs boss has built a reputation as an expert dealer in the transfer market, but he insists he would be more than happy if the New Year shop was cancelled this year.

"I hate it, I hate my phone ringing. Honestly, it's a side of the game that I hate," said the manager. "The only person who I like ringing me is my wife. She doesn't get involved, she doesn't know anything about football.

"It's murder when you're trying to get people in, when you're desperate and you're in a relegation battle. This time last year we needed to do something at Tottenham and we did, we brought some good players in. But this year it's different."

In fact, Redknapp spent more money in last year's January window than ever before, bringing five players to White Hart Lane at a combined cost of �48million.

Jermaine Defoe, Robbie Keane and Pascal Chimbonda all returned to Spurs, while Wilson Palacios and Carlo Cudicini arrived from Wigan and Chelsea respectively.

Redknapp has repeatedly stated that his early recruitment drive was the main reason for Tottenham's recovery last season, and 12 months on Defoe, Keane and Palacios are now heavily involved in the assault on the top four.

However, the Lilywhites manager is adamant that he has no plans to browse the new year sales this time around - because he cannot think of anyone better than his current crop.

"In the past I've always been at clubs that have been bottom of the league, so you have to do something," said Redknapp. "This year it's different, we're not at the bottom, we're fourth from top. The chances are very very very slim that I will bring anybody in here. At the moment I haven't got a player in mind, not one player. It hasn't even entered my mind.

"I don't know if we're going to get into the top four, but I don't know where I'm going to get anyone better.

"There's talk of me getting a centre-half but where am I going to get a better central defender than Ledley King, Michael Dawson or Sebastien Bassong? I've got Jonathan Woodgate coming back as well.

"David James has been mentioned and he's a great goalkeeper, world-class, but I've got a great goalkeeper here. [Heurelho] Gomes has been fantastic, he's been in great form.

"David James is not going to want to be a No2 anywhere. If he wants to play for England in the World Cup he needs to play, so that's not a possibility.

"Where will I find somebody better than Aaron Lennon? The World Cup's coming up and who's going to play on the right side for England? Maybe Aaron Lennon, maybe Theo Walcott and David Beckham's at AC Milan.

"Wide on the left, who am I going to find who's better than Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar - two fantastic, top international players?

"I've got three terrific central midfield players - Wilson Palacios, Tom Huddlestone's playing fantastic and Jermaine Jenas played the last game for England.

"I'm okay up front, if the strikers stay there's no problems there. I've got good players everywhere. I left Kranjcar out against West Ham and he's been absolutely fantastic. I left him out and brought Modric back. I'm not interested in getting any players, you won't get much excitement here.