Campbell To Start For Spurs As Bent Adds To Redknapp's Injury Woes

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Fraizer Campbell is set to start in the UEFA Cup clash for Tottenham against Spartak Moscow on Thursday, with England International Darren Bent the latest Spurs player to be ruled out of the game at White Hart Lane as he has tonsillitis.

Bent joins captain Ledley King (knee) and Jonathan Woodgate, who has a back injury, while Jermaine Jenas has a calf tear and Alan Hutton a metatarsal fracture, with Mexican Giovanni also missing due to a sprained ankle.

Summer signings Vedran Corluka and striker Roman Pavlyuchenko (left) are both cup-tied, leaving Campbell, who is on loan from Premier League Champions Manchester United as the only recognised forward at the North London club.

Due to this injury crisis Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is set to blood some of the youngster’s at Spurs in this final group game with Spartak. First year academy players 16-year-old John Bostock and Dean Parrett along with reserve team players Danny Rose and Dorien Dervite and second year academy players Adam Smith and 18-year-old John Obika are all set to be included in the squad for the UEFA tie.

Cavenaghi In? Pavlyuchenko Out? As Redknapp Rings The Changes At Spurs

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Tottenham Hotspur are ready to offer Ligue 1 side Bordeaux £8million for Argentine International Fernando Cavenaghi in the January transfer window, with manager Harry Redknapp seeing the striker as a replacement for summer signing Roman Pavlyuchenko, who is reportedly a target for former Tottenham boss Juande Ramos now in charge of La Liga Champions Real Madrid.

25-year-old Cavenaghi has been heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane in January and has revealed recently that he would be open to a move to the North London club, should Redknapp make an offer for the forward next month.



Redknapp sees the Argentine as an ideal replacement for Pavlyuchenko, who Redknapp is understood to want to offload next month, with the striker struggling to make an impression in the Premier League since his £14million switch from Spartak Moscow in August.

Former Manchester United player Laurent Blanc, who is the coach at Bordeaux revealed last week that while he would like to keep hold of Cavenaghi at the French club, but conceded that as coach these matters are out of his hands, with the Frenchman seeming resigned to losing Cavenaghi to the Premiership club next month.

“I want to keep my best players. I'd rather keep a player who scores goals than let him go,” Blanc told France Football last Friday.

“But then there's the reality that the coach does not control everything, whether he's at Bordeaux or elsewhere.”

Ironically, should Cavenaghi arrive at Tottenham to replace Russian International Pavlyuchenko. He would be replacing a player that he partnered upfront at Spartak Moscow between 2004-2006.

Blanc Resigned To Losing Bordeaux Striker To Spurs?

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Former Manchester United player Laurent Blanc, who is now coach at Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, has vowed to fight any move by Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur for Argentine International striker Fernando Cavenaghi.

25-year-old Cavenaghi has been heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane in January and has revealed recently that he would be open to a move to the North London club, should Spurs manager Harry Redknapp make an offer for the forward next month.



Tottenham are considering an offer in the region of £14million for Cavenaghi in January, according to reports in France. Despite, Redknapp revealing earlier this week that there will not be any major signings for the Premiership club, when the transfer window reopens in January.

However, Blanc has declared that he wants to keep the Argentine, but has conceded that the matter could be out of his hands if Tottenham make a big-money move for Cavenaghi next month.

“I want to keep my best players. I'd rather keep a player who scores goals than let him go,” Blanc told France Football.

“But then there's the reality that the coach does not control everything, whether he's at Bordeaux or elsewhere.”

Should Cavenaghi leave Bordeaux in January for Spurs then he would be reunited with Roman Pavlyuchenko, who he played with upfront at Spartak Moscow for two years between 2004-2006.

How Much Will Spurs Spend In January? ‘Arry Talk’ Reading Between The Lines

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The New Voice Of Football column at FootballFancast.com

With Spurs boss Harry Redknapp revealing earlier this week that after meeting with chairman Daniel Levy that there will be no big bags of cash to be thrown around in January and that he would be “happy” to get a couple of loan signings in at Tottenham next month. What exactly does he mean?

Well considering Tottenham have spent £50million or thereabouts in the last two summers on players. Does that mean if he is given £20million it’s not lots of cash, or does it mean £5million, £10million?

If you look at the Spurs squad in general there are a few positions that need strengthening immediately. Firstly Tottenham have been crying out for a quality holding midfielder and have been since Michael Carrick left for Manchester United. Second is another striker. The possibility of Fraizer Campbell returning to United, would leave Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent as the only two strikers at White Hart Lane. Even if Campbell sees out his loan, Spurs still need another one. Thirdly is a goalkeeper, whether it is to replace Heurelho Gomes or to provide serious competition. Because if, Arry rated Spurs No2, Cesar Sanchez he would have given him an opportunity by now, with Cesar looking like he is heading back to Spain with Valencia anyway.

My maths is not the best, but I know three won’t go into two ‘loan signings’. Saying that I think he will get a couple in on loan on a try before you buy basis, it’s Redknapp’s ‘wheeler dealer’ way.

However, you can’t always get the type of quality your looking for that way, so some money is going to have to be spent. So will Tottenham sell to buy? If you look outside the regular first-team squad at Tottenham it’s hard to see where substantial funds will be raised from, with the likes of Ricardo Rocha, Paul Stalteri, Gilberto, Adel Taarabt, Hossam Ghaly, Cesar and possibly Chris Gunter likely to be the players Redknapp is keen to sell.

Tottenham would be laughing all the way to the bank if they got anywhere near £15million for the seven of them. Yet, Spurs have been linked with a £16million swoop for West Ham pair Matthew Upson and Robert Green and a £9million move for Elano at Man City along with Venuzuelan midfielder Juan Arango at Real Mallorca, who looks like he will cost from the videos I’ve seen of him. A further £12million for Stewart Downing at Middlesbrough and this is just the last couple of days. Add to that Argentine Fernando Cavenaghi at around £10million from Bordeaux or another decent striker at the same amount and the bill is starting to soar like a tourist’s in a Soho clip joint.

So it just doesn’t add up, Levy will have to back him unless they have agreed to get by until the summer and go LARGE then like Tottenham have in the past two.

I think how much Redknapp is given will depend on if there is European football at White Hart Lane in the New Year. So should Spurs progress in the UEFA Cup next Thursday, which they are expected to do then I can only see money forthcoming from Levy. Yes it won’t be £50million, but it will be enough when added to Redknapp’s wheeling and dealing skills to ensure Tottenham have the players they need come February 1st.

Or to look at it another way, former QPR and Plymouth manager Ian Holloway might have put it like this: ‘When you have just started dating a nice lady and she is doing the business.

‘You take her anywhere she wants to go. It’s when the sparkle disappears, that you stop talking and sit in front of the telly every night, with a bag of chips.’

Redknapp Told Spurs Striker Pavlyuchenko Needs A Slap

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Tottenham Hotspur manager, Harry Redknapp has been told that summer signing Roman Pavlyuchenko needs the odd “slap” to get the best out the striker by former Spartak Moscow boss Vladimir Fedotov.

Redknapp was told that 26-year-old Pavlyuchenko, who arrived at White Hart Lane from Spartak in the summer for £14million sometimes, had a problem getting motivated for matches. With the best way to do it being either shouting at the Russian International or even going as far as to slap the EURO 2008 star around a bit Fedotov revealed.

Former Portsmouth manager Redknapp has also been told that dropping Pavlyuchenko to the reserves also helped to get get the best out of the Russian and that the Spurs striker needed “a bit of help” if he felt that Pavlyuchenko was not in the right mood to play.

Fedotov told Sport Express newspaper: “When I had the feeling that he wasn't going to be in the right mood for a game, I gave him a bit of help.

“So I had to shout at him or sometimes even slap him around the face ... I did it fairly softly although I do have a good punch if I need to.

“Pavlyuchenko is a very gifted footballer. It was easy for me to work with him, as I knew his strong sides and his weaknesses.

“His greatest disadvantage is that if he is not in the right mood for the game he is an absolute disaster. He becomes a sap. I hope in England they'll get rid of this habit.

“It was important that I noticed his moods well in advance. If I didn't spot it, he'd wander around the pitch like a lost boy and it was impossible to do anything with him after kick-off.”

Another former manager of the Russian side, Stranislav Cherchesov, has backed this sentiment, with Cherchesov also revealing that Pavlyuchenko had motivational problems.

He said: “After watching him play in England I'm glad to see that Pavlyuchenko comes on the pitch much more motivated than he did for an average game in Russia.

“Evidently this English football is new and interesting to him. I had to exile him to the reserves for a game once to make him change his attitude.

“It was a harsh decision for a manager to make. Initially he was awfully offended. His pride was hurt. He couldn't understand what he was being punished for.

“I'm sure by now he realised that temporary exile did him a lot of good. And not only for him but Spartak and the Russian national team too.”

Redknapp To Let Kids Earn Their Spurs Against NEC

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that the UEFA Cup is not a priority for Spurs, with the former Portsmouth boss instead insisting that the Premier League is most important to the North London club.

Spurs are due to face Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, with Redknapp set to include youngsters John Bostock (left), Yaser Kasim, Adam Smith, Ryan Mason and and John Obika in the Tottenham squad to face the Dutch side.

Redknapp will rest more senior members of the Spurs squad ahead of the Premiership clash with Everton at White Hart Lane on Sunday, with Redknapp insisting it is important to keep Tottenham’s recent run going due to the tight situation in the Premier League this season.

“We have to be honest, the league is what is most important to us,” Redknapp said.

“We have to keep the run going because the league is so tight. We've had a great run and we're still down there."

Loan signing from Manchester United, Fraizer Campbell could be in line to start for Spurs due to Russian International Roman Pavlyuchenko being cup-tied along with defender Vedran Corluka.

Argentine International Open To Spurs Move

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Argentine International striker Fernando Cavenaghi has revealed that he would be open to a move to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.

Recent reports have suggested that new Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is keen to add 25-year-old Cavenaghi to his squad at White Hart Lane in January. With Redknapp only having three recognised strikers in Roman Pavlyuchenko, Darren Bent and loan signing from Manchester United Fraizer Campbell at the North London club.

Cavenaghi has now claimed that if Tottenham are indeed interested in signing him then it is an offer the former River Plate forward would have to give serious consideration to.

Cavenaghi told Setanta: “I do not know if Tottenham are really interested in signing me. If it's right, though, I will study this offer because they are a top English team.

“I must say I like the English league, I like it a lot.

“I know many Premier League players, even if there are not many Argentinians up there. Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano - I know them well. Why shouldn't I follow in their footsteps?”

Despite being left on the bench for Bordeaux’s Champions League clash with Chelsea on Wednesday, Cavenaghi has insisted that he is not frustrated at the French side.

“I would not say I am frustrated. I play every single league game, so it's only in the Champions League that I come on as a substitute,” he added.

Should Cavenaghi leave Bordeaux in January for Spurs then he would be reunited with Pavlyuchenko, who he played with upfront at Spartak Moscow for two years between 2004-2006.

Man City v Spurs Premiership Preview: Will The Redknapp Factor Tip The Balance At The Eastlands?

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Mark Hughes’ Manchester City play, Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at the Eastlands Stadium on Sunday.

City under Hughes and the ADUG are still like City under Eriksson and Shinawatra, with the Eastlands faithful unsure of which side of the Blues they will see on any given day. With Man City going into this clash with a galvanised Tottenham on the back of two successive league defeats to Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United 2-0, but winning in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. Hughes’ side have looked capable of beating anyone on their day and the new boss will eventually get the balance right in the Blue half of Manchester.

Since the arrival of Harry Redknapp as manager at White Hart Lane from Southampton, Spurs are unbeaten, with the North London club beating Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool and drawing with Arsenal in the Premier League. With Tottenham looking like a completely different side to the team which collected 2 points from their first 8 games in the Premiership under Juande Ramos. Spurs like City also go into this clash on the back of a win in Europe, with Tottenham drubbing Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. However, the North London club still find themselves at the bottom of the table, but under the leadership of Redknapp are not expected to stay there for long.

Hughes is unable to call on Martin Petrov (knee), Michael Johnson (groin) or long-term absentee Valeri Bojinov (calf), but strikers Darius Vassell and Benjani are in contention, with Benjani scoring on his comeback on Thursday in the UEFA Cup.

Redknapp will have to decide whether to put Russian International Roman Pavlyuchenko back in the Spurs starting eleven, who was cup-tied for the match with Zagreb. With Darren Bent finally finding his goal-scoring touch for Tottenham this season after his hat-trick against Zagreb took his tally to nine in all competitions this campaign.

Captain Ledley King should start along with Vedran Corluka, who like Pavlyuchenko was cup-tied in Europe and is set to face his former club. Midfielder Jermaine Jenas could shake off an ankle injury in time, while Gilberto is also a doubt for the trip to the Eastlands. Giovanni is definitely out after picking up an ankle injury on Monday, but Michael Dawson is available again after suspension.

Manchester City: (from) Hart, Dunne, Richards, Zabaleta, Garrido, Hamann, Kompany, Ireland, Elano, Jo, Robinho, Wright-Phillips, Ball, Schmeichel, Mills, Fernandes, Calcedo, Evans, Castillo, Ben Haim, Etuhu, Sturridge, Logan, Glauber, Benjani, Vassell

Tottenham Hotspur: (from) Gomes, Bale, Gunter, Woodgate, Corluka, King, Hutton, Assou-Ekotto, Jenas, Zokora, Huddlestone, Bentley, Modric, Pavlyuchenko, Cesar, Bent, Campbell, Taarabt, Stalteri, Ghaly, Rocha, Lennon, Prince-Boateng, O’Hara, Dawson

Spurs Striker Pavlyuchenko Wants To Play Arsenal & Liverpool Every Day

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Tottenham Hotspur summer signing Roman Pavlyuchenko has claimed that he is convinced that in “England it is possible to score against any team”, while also revealing that he is “ready to play” in clashes like the last two Premier League matches against Liverpool and Arsenal “every day”.

26-year-old Pavlyuchenko scored the injury time winner for Spurs at White Hart Lane against early Premiership pacesetters Liverpool on Saturday, with the Russian International also scoring against Bolton Wanderers last weekend in Tottenham’s first win of the season, which coincided with the arrival of new manager Harry Redknapp.

However, Pavlyuchenko will have to wait until next weekend when Tottenham play Manchester City for his next game, with the former Spartak Moscow player being cup-tied for the visit of Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, but is confident that he can build on his winner against the Reds at the Eastlands on Saturday if he follows Redknapp’s instructions, who simply told him to “run about” against the Merseyside Club last time out.

“I am convinced now in England that it is possible to score against any team, you only need to work and follow the instructions of the coach," Pavlyuchenko told Sport Express.

"I am ready to play in games like that with Arsenal or Liverpool every day.

“That is real football. It is fantastic what happens in such matches in England. I feel a part of something important for everybody.

Pavlyuchenko also claims that he sensed Liverpool were there for the taking from as early as the 80th minute and applauded his team for keeping going to the end to snatch an important win.

"I noticed as early as the 80th minute that Liverpool's defenders were getting tired and losing concentration and we tried to capitalise. The fact that our team plays until the very last minute is good,” he said.

The EURO 2008 star, who came off the bench against Liverpool to score the goal that ended Rafa Benitez’s sides unbeaten run in all competitions this season has also revealed that he did not mind starting on the bench and will just work harder to make himself first choice under Redknapp.

“I was not at all upset to learn that I was not in the starting XI in the match against Liverpool,” said Pavlyuchenko.

“It is useless and even destructive to get upset in such situations. You must work harder to return.”

Tottenham Plan £25million Ligue 1 Double Swoop?

New Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has already been linked with a string of strikers in the January transfer window since taken over from Juande Ramos at White Hart Lane last Sunday, with Spurs now being linked with Ligue 1 pair, Fernando Cavenaghi at Bordeaux and Jimmy Briand, who plays for Rennes, according to Mercato 365.

Redknapp is almost certain to add more firepower to the Tottenham front line in January, with summer signing Roman Pavlyuchenko and England International Darren Bent the only two experienced forwards at the North London club.

Although Spurs have been linked with Everton’s Yakubu and Wigan Athletic’s Egyptian sensation Amr Zaki along with his Latics strike-partner Emile Heskey at home in the Premier League, Tottenham are now believed to be tracking Cavenaghi and Briand in the French top-flight.

Cavenaghi is a former team-mate of Pavlyuchenko, having played with the Russian International at Spartak Moscow and is valued by the French side at around £15million, with the 25-year-old Argentine International scoring 23 goals in 44 league matches for Bordeaux and is exactly the type of out-and-out goal-scorer that Redknapp is looking for at White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Briand has drawn comparisons in his style of play to former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, with the Frenchman reportedly a target for Redknapp when he was in charge of Portsmouth. The Gunners were also said to be interested in Briand after his breakthrough season for Rennes in 2006-2007. However, despite the comparisons with Barcelona’s Henry, Briand is less prolific and plays as a second striker, where he can create for others as well as score.

Briand would cost Tottenham in the region of £10million, with the striker unsettled at the Route de Lorient after a summer tug-of-war with Ligue 1 rivals Paris St Germain, which resulted in Briand staying with Rennes, despite wanting to leave.