Redknapp: Spurs can’t compete with big spenders

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp says his club cannot hope to compete with the likes of cash-rich Manchester City when it comes to signing new faces this summer.   The former Portsmouth boss, who splashed out on strikers Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane in January, revealed that he had hoped to recruit Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz during the close-season, only to be trumped on both occasions by the big-spending Blues for £12 million and £18 million respectively.

“They are working on another level with the wages they can offer," he said.

"We liked Barry and Santa Cruz but, when it came to it, we just weren’t at the races."

Redknapp is renowned as one of the canniest operators in the transfer market. However, so far he has failed to bring any new faces to White Hart Lane ahead of the the new season.

And the 62-year-old insisted that he may not even sign a single player this summer if he feels they will not improve what is already - in his opinion - a good squad.

“I have spoken to the chairman, Daniel Levy; we’ve decided if we can’t get players who will improve the team, then we’re not going to bother," he said.

"We’ve already got a decent squad, many of whom are going to get better. We can push to finish in the top six if we improve our away results.”

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Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.