New Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that he could raid former club Portsmouth for some of their players when the transfer window reopens in January. After his shock exit from Pompey to take over at White Hart Lane on Sunday, following the sacking by Spurs of Juande Ramos on Saturday.
While Redknapp didn’t name any names he did reveal that if the South coast club were willing to sell then Tottenham like any other Premiership team would be interested in trying to sign them, with Redknapp also claiming that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is aware that the squad at the North London club is a little thin in certain areas.
Asked if he would be attempting to sign any of his former players at Portsmouth, Redknapp replied: “I wouldn't say never.
“If Portsmouth want to sell one or two, then we would be in for them just as any other club in the Premier League would be. They have some fantastic players there.
“But it would be Portsmouth's decision if they wanted to sell.
“The Tottenham chairman knows the team needs strengthening in one or two areas and that is something we will look at it January.
“There are good players here and we will look at the areas we need to improve.”
One player Redknapp will almost certainly make a move for is striker Jermain Defoe, who Tottenham sold to Pompey in January, with the England International in fine form for Pompey since his switch from Spurs and with Tottenham clearly lacking firepower upfront after the summer sales of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane.
Another player Redknapp could make a January move for is midfielder Lassana Diarra, with Tottenham crying out for a quality holding midfielder since the sale of Michael Carrick to Manchester United in 2006.
Redknapp has also revealed that he is likely to bring coach Joe Jordan to White Hart Lane, but has conceded that it will be unlikely that Tony Adams will be arriving at Tottenham, given his strong connections with Spurs’ bitter rivals Arsenal.
Redknapp said: “Tony is an Arsenal man so it would be tricky for him to go to Tottenham.
“Joe Jordan has been fantastic for me and I'd always be happy to have him with me, but that is up to the club.”
The former West Ham United manager has also revealed that he expects owner Sacha Gaydamak is eager to sell the club, despite denying this and claims his own future at Fratton Park could have been under threat if the club was sold.
Redknapp said: “I think Sacha would like to sell if he can find a buyer. He's been very supportive and put a lot of money into the club.
“Sacha is a terrific young man but I'm not sure he wants to keep going.
“The owner has spent big money since he's been there, but things were tight.
“All clubs are up for sale and Portsmouth are included in that.
“I didn't have to go, but Peter told me the pros and cons and what the future might hold at Portsmouth and I had to weigh all of that up.
“Things are tight. The owner Sacha has been fantastic but they get 19,000 people and sold one or two players in the transfer window and in the end they've had to sell the manager.
“The funds are tight. We were talking about selling players in January unfortunately. Sacha's given great support but we were hoping to do a deal or two before the window closed and it didn't happen.”
Redknapp also believes that the £5million compensation Portsmouth will receive from Spurs is fair and that it was hard to leave the South coast side for a second time.
Redknapp said: “It was difficult to leave Portsmouth, for sure. But Portsmouth will move on.
“It would have been very easy to leave if I wasn't enjoying it. They are good fans and it's a good club there. But to get £5m for me is good financially for them as well.”
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