Premier League - Spurs fail to agree Defoe fee

Eurosport - Sat, 03 Jan 13:21:00 2009

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that his former club Portsmouth want more than £20 million for ex-Spurs striker Jermain Defoe.

FOOTBALL 2008/09 Premier League Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring against Tottenham Hotspur - 0

Defoe's desire to leave the club has been made public by the Hampshire side, and the England forward is hopeful of a return to the north London club he left in January for £7.5 million.

However, Redknapp said following Tottenham's 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Third Round that the major inflation in the player's asking price means that he will be looking elsewhere to boost his attacking options in the transfer window.

Redknapp said when asked about the transfer negotiations between Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie: "I think it's in excess of £20million probably.

"The two clubs are miles apart in their valuation of the player so I think we'll have to move on."

Defoe left Spurs on the last day of the January 2008 transfer window in order to get regular first team football, as he was behind Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov in the pecking order.

The move paid off, as the 26-year-old has gone on to score 17 times in 35 appearances for Pompey. Now, with Keane and Berbatov sold to Liverpool and Manchester United respectively, and Spurs striker Darren Bent picking up a groin injury in the FA Cup win at White Hart Lane, Redknapp has only Roman Pavlyuchenko and on-loan Fraizer Campbell currently at his disposal.

Redknapp said of Bent's injury: "He's struggling a bit. I don't know for sure but he'll be out for a little while."

Another player who Redknapp was denied the use of that evening was midfielder Hossam Ghaly.

Ghaly has not appeared for Spurs since the 1-1 home draw with Blackburn Rovers in May 2005, when then manager Martin Jol brought him on as a substitute only to bring him off again in the second half. The Egyptian reacted angrily by removing his shirt and throwing it down in full view of the Tottenham supporters, and was subsequently loaned out to Derby County.

Ghaly was preparing to come on for the final few minutes against wigan but, after he received a chorus of boos from Spurs fans, Redknapp decided to bring on Aaron Lennon in his stead.

Redknapp said: "I'd have been upset if I'd been subbed as a sub.

"We need him. We all make mistakes in life. Show me someone who hasn't made mistakes and I'll show you a liar. Everyone deserves another chance.

"It's difficult for the lad. He's been okay since I've been here and his attitude has been fine. I felt sorry for him."

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 60 - 79 of 79

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  1. PORTSMOUTH ARE NOT THERE ON MERIT, CONTRARY TO WHAT­ THEIR SC"M SUPPORTERS THINK. YOU ARE THERE BECAUSE­ A FILTHY CROOK THAT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION LIKE HIS­ FATHER, IS LOOKING FOR LEGITIMATE PLACES TO LAUNDER HIS­ MONEY. IF YOU THINK THAT IS MERIT, YOU PROVE TO ALL­ OTHER "REAL FOOTBALL FANS" OF FOOTBALL, WHY­ BEING A PORTSMOUTH FAN IS DISLIKED. YOU CAN DRAW LINES­ BETWEEN THUGS, SC"M THAT CARRY OUT DEATH THREATS­ AND YOURSELF, BUT NOT ONE OF YOU REFUSED THIS FILTHY­ MONEY...............REMEMBER, IF YOUR FILTHY GANGSTER­ OF AN OWNER DID KEEP HIS BLOOD MONEY IN YOUR CLUB,­ EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DEFENDED IE; QUAINT UN-FASHIOABLE­ CLUB ETC, WOULD NO LONGER EXIST. NEITHER WOULD THE­ REASONABLY PRICED TICKETS FOR THE YOUNGSTERS AND­ PARENTS, NOR FOR THE MATTER, ANY PART OF THE CLUB­ SYMBOLIC OF THE WORKING CLASS THAT BUILT PFC IN THE­ FIRST PLACE..............IF YOU WANT TO DIFFERENTIATE­ YOURSELF FROM THE DEATH THREAT SC"M, START BY­ POINTING THE FINGER AT THE MONEY MEN THAT DEAL IN­ DEATH.............

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Tue 6 Jan 2:04AM

  2. OH DEAR WHAT A SHAME, PITY A BIG CLUB LIKE YOURS CANT­ AFFORD TO BUY DEFOE FROM A SMALL CLUB LIKE OURS CANT­ RAISE THE CASH STILL NEVER MIND YOUR OTHER STRIKERS GOT­ THE RIGHT NAME FOR A TEAM MANAGED BY FLASH HARRY. NO­ TROPHIES THIS SEASON THEN MAN UTD CANT WAIT TO KICK­ YOUR ARSES HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

    From KEN C, on Tue 6 Jan 12:24AM

  3. and there all from harrys days .yea but same to you­ defo only wants to go back to work with harry .where­ were u befor harry came. downing want to work with­ redknap so any player you buy is going to work for him­ lol so your just as bad as us

    From seabastianj, on Mon 5 Jan 8:32PM

  4. yea we sat with them after the match in the old second­ div ffs man get over it . and again port scum lol are u­ really 10 . your the sort of fan that gives your team a­ bad name. so chill out and stop getting angry that we­ got defo and you dont . and sol cambell is our hero .

    From seabastianj, on Mon 5 Jan 8:28PM

  5. ROCK AND ROLL is an old man with old news from far gone­ days when spurs had a big club.

    From Martin, on Mon 5 Jan 1:44AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ALL YOUR PORTSCUM PLAYERS ARE FROM HARRYS DAYS. NOT ONE­ WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE CLUB WITHOUT HARRY, YOU FILTHY­ IN BRED. OUR TROPHYS ARE MANY. EVEN UN ASSUMING­ SOUTHAMPTON BEAT MAN U WHILST IN THE OLD 2ND DIVISION.­ THEY HAD HEART AND GREAT FANS. THEY BEAT US A FEW YEARS­ AGO AND WE SAT A DRANK WITH THEIR BOYS AND REALISED­ WHAT A "REAL TEAM" (HARRYS WORDS ALSO) THEY­ WERE. GET OVER A LUCKY FA CUP WIN AND REALISE SPURS ARE­ A TEAM YOU COULD ONLY ASPIRE TO. TRY BEATING SAINTS­ BEFORE YOU LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR GLORY............. YOU IN­ BRED PORTSCUM LOSERS..........

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Sun 4 Jan 8:56PM

  7. u do not want ten-boob south coast players. lol but u­ do crouch defo james johnson distan. cambell lol­ thats right he saw the light and went to arsenal cant­ blame him there. by far better team yes you have alot­ of trophies but that was along time ago get over it­ .portscum lol what are u 10

    From seabastianj, on Sun 4 Jan 8:04PM

  8. RE seabass 182
    For a start Harry started at Spurs as a­ player so he was always ours prat,for seconds we do NOT­ want to be a ten-bob south coast team.Only 3 of the big­ 4 have won more trophies than us.Keep dreaming.COYS!

    From MrScary, on Sun 4 Jan 6:16PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    PORTSMOUTH WERE A PATHETIC LITTLE SOUTH COAST CLUB,­ THAT HAD A LUCKY BREAK WHEN A MAFIA CROOK WANTED TO­ SHIFT SOME MONEY. EVEN REDKNAPP SAID HE WAS SENDING HIS­ BENTLEY BACK WHEN HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO PORTSCUM. HE­ SAID "IT WILL BE A BIT EMBARRASSING TURNING UP TO­ THE GATES OF FRATTON WITH A BENTLEY. HE THEN REALISED­ THE CROOK WAS OFF LOADING THE CR^PPY LITTLE­ S"1THOLE, SO BAILED­ OUT.........................................UP THE­ SPURS AND THANKS FOR YOUR MANAGER­ PORTSCUM.........SAINTS WERE A BRILLIANT YOUTH PROGRAM­ TEAM, DON'T EVEN THINK THAT YOU ARE A FEEDER­ CLUB...................T"@TS

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Sun 4 Jan 4:52PM

  10. Poor old pompey managerless, soon to be quality­ playerless,get over it rednapp left for a much bigger­ club and challenge!! he knows your club is in big­ financial trouble and got out!!

    From Wayne, on Sun 4 Jan 3:25PM

  11. Pompey is becoming our feeder club........lets get a­ bigger feeder club like Bounemouth!!go for Owen a real­ goal poacher, the geordies will sell rather then let­ him go for a free at the end of the season!!

    From Wayne, on Sun 4 Jan 3:20PM

  12. Mick P, right there. Tony Adams won't win anything­ except at the bar. From what I have understood, he­ excelled in that field. He might have been good in the­ past as a player but that doesn't mean he is cut­ out to manage in the Premiership. He should be starting­ in the lower leagues.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 4 Jan 11:56AM

  13. tommihew, comment 46:
    What a load of pooooo you are­ blabbering on about here.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 4 Jan 11:54AM

  14. silly tottenham fans you have our manager you want our­ players y not just buy a portsmouth shirt and be done .­ u abuse us but it sound to me like u want to be us .­ you got harry and kevin bond . then u buy a few of our­ players . could be wrong but southampton did the same­ thing . all u need is nigel quashi and you will be down­ fools

    From seabastianj, on Sun 4 Jan 8:59AM

  15. There is plenty of jealousy around here today. Spurs­ mucked up and now they will pay the price. Harry­ should stop crying get his wallet out and pay. I think­ he owes Pompey a little dont you? 'This will be my­ last club to manage in football' i think that what­ he said at beginning of year.

    From Mark M, on Sun 4 Jan 4:33AM

  16. portsmouth twats your going nowhere under that idiot­ adams look at the great job he done at the last club­ piss all exept @#$% them up

    From mick, on Sun 4 Jan 3:27AM

  17. Show me a man that has made many mistakes and is a full­ time liar and I will show you Harry I will always run­ when I have spent your money, or when I have got you­ relegated, Blue till I die Redknapp.

    From Martin, on Sun 4 Jan 3:03AM

  18. 20mil for a sulky little boy is great for Pompey

    From Martin, on Sun 4 Jan 2:04AM

  19. #63 this is for football comment's. you us slag...­ get off..

    From brian, on Sun 4 Jan 12:16AM

  20. # 46, bollock's you @#$%... you pompey muppet @#$%.

    From brian, on Sun 4 Jan 12:12AM
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