Harry Talking Too Much Once Again As He Discusses Clubs Transfer Plans

Sunday evening I recorded a podcast, where I reitirated that I still held firm in the belief that Luka Modric would still be a Spurs player come September 1st 2011. Despite all the below, I still believe that to be the case.

During that podcast recording, Harry Redknapp did another impromtu interview on TalkSport. In the interview Redknapp said that Luka Modric would miss the Manchester United game, he has a knock that ‘possibly Luka could play through’ but that his ‘head might not be quite right.’ If the player has a slight injury and isn’t in the right frame of mind then sending him onto the pitch would be a terrible decision. Injuries on the pitch are as often caused by players pulling out of challenges as they are when someone goes clean through an opponent. As well as the risk of injury, no one can afford a passenger at Old Trafford, so to leave him out is the only real choice.

Of course Modric state of mind is an important consideration, yet in the interview Harry continued to state that he’s a fantastic professional who will give his all. This is obviously contradictory to the ‘head not quite right’ comment, it wouldn’t be the first time that Redknapp has contradicted himself in the space of a few words. Or maybe, the ‘head not quite right’ refers to the injury? Despite his extensive experience in front of a microphone, Harry is no oratory genius and often stumbles over his lines.

TalkSport and Sky Sports News will of course spin it in Chelsea’s favour as they have seemed intent on doing all summer. They probably won’t mention the fact that Harry stated that: It’s still Daniel Levy’s decision on Luka’s future and he has not changed his stance ; Levy will sit down and talk to Modric over new contract terms – surely a pay rise rather than an extension – and that Redknapp believes Mata to Chelsea will end Chelsea’s interest in Modric anyway.

Redknapp also said that Levy had agreed a fee with Valencia for Mata a couple of weeks ago but the player refused the move. If that’s true, it’s encouraging as it shows that their is money in the kitty without needing to ‘cash in’ on Modric as some have suggested. Finally Harry revealed that he did expect to have at least two players in before the end of the window. Redknapp is looking for a midfielder and a striker, he talked about the Adebayor negotiations carrying on. No names were mentioned for the midfielder but it would be safe to assume that Lassana Diarra remains the number one target for that position.

All in all, it’s hard to criticise too much of what Redknapp has said, the interviewers certainly seemed intent on trying to twist his words and answers to suit their agendas. Perhaps the state of mind comment can be viewed as too much information from Redknapp again. If it does refer to Luka’s desire to play for the club then selling would surely be the only option but his admission would be just as sure to lower the price of the Croatian. Obviously its to be hoped that isn’t what he meant at all. Perhaps the biggest criticism that can be levelled at Redknapp is that the interview was wholly unnecessary. He won’t see it that way, he got the chance to have a chat with his media mate, Paddy Barclay and Ollie Holt.

So is it time to free Luka?  Worst case and Luka’s head really has been turned, then Levy has to move now and negotiate the best possible deal for the club. It would be preferable that another buyer was found rather than allowing Chelsea’s classless chase to bear fruit. Lets assume the best case scenario then, if Luka is just injured and yes probably a little sulky but able to get his head together – as Harry keeps insisting – then Levy must stand firm and stick to his guns. Keep his ‘not for sale’ sign up and tell Chelsea to keep walking.

It does seem sure that Luka’s injury (or ‘injury’ if you prefer) will mean another chance for Thursdays central midfield partnership of Livermore and Kranjcar. Kranjcar must see this as his chance to really impress Redknapp and he will be key to Spurs having any chance of a result at Old Trafford, a result that may show his fellow Croat that Spurs are indeed capable of competing at the top.

COYS

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