Redknapp keen to tie up Crouch, Vieira deals

July 27, 2009

Harry Redknapp believes Peter Crouch and Patrick Vieira are essential signings if Tottenham are to mount a serious challenge for a top four finish in the Premier League.

The north London club are in negotiations with Portsmouth over a deal for England striker Crouch, while Redknapp claims Inter Milan midfielder Vieira is considering a move to White Hart Lane.

A deal for Crouch hinges on Tottenham persuading Portsmouth to lower their 15 million pounds asking price to around 10 million pounds, but Redknapp is keen to ensure the deal goes through.

The former Portsmouth boss believes Crouch’s height and ability to retain possession would bring a different dimension to a Tottenham attack lacking physically imposing players.

“He gives you something different. He holds the balls up. I don’t think we do that well enough,” Redknapp said after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Celtic in the Wembley Cup.

“He is a target, if you play him right he will do a good job. He has always done that for me. He’s great on set-plays in both boxes.

“Portsmouth want to sell him, that’s common knowledge. What Peter is looking for isn’t crazy money, his wages are fine. It’s just agreeing a fee with Portsmouth that is the stumbling block.”

Redknapp claims a swoop for former Arsenal star Vieira would also be invaluable because he would add leadership qualities to a team lacking a dominant personality.

“Vieira would bring a presence to the club. He has stature. He is a dominant personality who has won everything,” he said.

Redknapp also admitted England striker Darren Bent is keen to leave Spurs, with Sunderland his most likely destination.

But he played down the implications of his team’s lacklustre display against a Celtic team more concerned with Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Dinamo Moscow than the pre-season tournament at England’s national stadium.

Despite playing a reserve team, Celtic were too strong for Tottenham and Redknapp said: “I was disappointed with the way we played, we gave two terrible games away, it was poor defending.

“I haven’t learned too much because I know who is good enough to play and who isn’t.”

Celtic boss Tony Mowbray admitted his side’s two victories over Al Ahly and Spurs were the perfect preparation for the qualifying round first leg against Dinamo at Parkhead.

“We wanted to get into the winning habit and we did that, but we know it won’t mean much if we don’t get the right result on Wednesday,” Mowbray said.

“These games were all about building up to that match. It’s important for the players’ belief and confidence to see that we can do well against any opposition. The extra intensity we showed made the difference.”

Mowbray also conceded the team’s hectic pre-season schedule has made it hard to get the squad prepared in time for their must-win Euro tie.

“I felt that the day I walked in and looked at the pre-season schedule,” Mowbray said. “In less than two weeks we had to fly to Australia, where we spent more time in the air than on the ground, go to Cardiff to open their new stadium and then come to London.

“That’s why a lot of the potential starters for Wednesday’s match didn’t play here.”

LONDON (AFP)

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