Tottenham’s long-running pursuit of Scott Parker has been halted again as the club wait to off-load Wilson Palacios, whose proposed move to Napoli has stalled.

Palacios was on the verge of joining the Serie A outfit last week, but the deal hit the buffers when the Italians decided the fee was too high.

“Wilson interests us a lot but negotiations have stalled for now,” said Napoli’s sporting director Riccardo Bigon. “Tottenham are ready to sell him outright, but they want a lot of money in order to let him go.”

It is believed that Napoli have offered �10million for Palacios, but that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is keen to recoup all of the �12m that Tottenham paid Wigan for the 26-year-old in 2009.

The Lilywhites are waiting for the sale to be rubber stamped before they move for his replacement, England star Parker.

Given that Levy’s mission is to streamline the squad, the Lilywhites are anxious to avoid a scenario where they sign Parker but fail to sell Palacios – leaving them with too many midfielders for next season’s 25-man squad, and yet another unwanted international on the wage bill.

Harry Redknapp virtually confirmed his intention to recruit Parker over the weekend when he used his column in a national newspaper to underline the importance of the midfielder staying in the Premier League – and allay concerns about his age.

“Scott is combative, relentless, professional, modest and unbendingly committed. That’s why he was voted the Football Writers’ Player of the Year and why he is popular with most supporters of most clubs,” said Redknapp.

“Of course it will be difficult for him if he is stuck in the Championship.

“Sadly, it’s the way of the world that England players rarely come from out of the top flight. But if he can get to a good Premier League club who knows what can happen?

“What I admire is his modesty and professionalism. There are suggestions Scott is too old to start an international career. No way. Watch him play and he could be 10 years younger.”

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