Written by Viorel Mesca.
As Tottenham prepare for the start of the 2010-2011 campaign, manager Harry Redknapp takes the time to declare that he is an admirer of Craig Bellamy.
With both Robbie Keane and recently Peter Crouch linked with moves away from the White Hart Lane, Bellamy could be seen as an ideal replacement for any of them. Redknapp admits he must sell before he can start buying, refusing to respond to speculation that he also wants Manchester City’s Micah Richards.
Redknapp told Sky Sports News:
“With three players – not massive signings, not big money – just the players I really want, if I could manage to pull them off then anything could happen with Tottenham this year.
I think the potential here is fantastic. I like Bellamy but if Manchester City don’t want to sell him… He is a player I’ve been after before when he went to Man City.
They belong to Man City, it’s not really fair to talk about other people’s players. They’re at Man City at the moment and until they decide they want to sell them then there’s nothing you can do with anybody.”
Redknapp admitted he would be prepared to let Robbie Keane go in order to raise funds. He said:
“Last year suddenly Robbie wasn’t in the side and I could see he wasn’t happy.
Robbie Keane is a fantastic professional. I still think he’s a great player.
He’s been our best player in pre-season. He’s the brightest trainer, comes in every day and works his socks off, wants to play, loves to do well. He’s a player you don’t want to lose.
I really want to keep him because he’s difficult to replace but if you want to buy players you’ve got to raise some money from somewhere. If Robbie’s maybe one of a few who you can sell, then maybe that happens.”
According to goal.com, Keane confessed to reporters in Dublin, after picking the Irish player of the year award:
“I’ve had it [the speculation] for 12 years; you get bored of it after a while.
It’s one of those things, speculation; I’m used to it now. Every player, when the transfer window opens, it happens to them, 70 or 80% of footballers. It’s just one of those things, I’m a Spurs player and I’m looking forward to the new season.”
As Redknapp said, Robbie Keane was Spurs’ best player in pre-season but would his performances be enough for him to stay one more season at White Hart Lane?
Dear readers, have your say! Would you like Craig Bellamy to join the club? Would you let Keane go if you were in Redknapp’s shoes?
