Premier League - Defoe makes Tottenham return

Eurosport - Wed, 07 Jan 10:16:00 2009

Jermain Defoe said he never wanted to leave Tottenham for Portsmouth after returning to White Hart Lane in a £15 million deal.

2008-2009 Tottenham Hotspur Jermain Defoe - 0

England striker Defoe is expected to lead Harry Redknapp's attack, havingf been deemed surplus to requirements by then-manager Juande Ramos less than a year ago.

Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov have since been sold, while big-money summer signing Roman Pavlyuchenko has made little impact.

The 26-year-old was paraded on the pitch to fans before Spurs' 4-1 Carling Cup win over Burnley last night.

"It's great to be back and I'm looking forward to the challenge," Defoe said. "It's hard to put it in words, it's brilliant.

"A number of things [made me return]. Obviously everyone knows the manager was a major factor. My family still live in London and the fans were a factor too - you can tell by the reception I got.

"I never wanted to leave, but as a professional there comes a time when you think you ned to move on. I did in order to improve my England career."

Spurs boss Redknapp, who was in charge at Pompey when Defoe moved to Fratton Park, will still have money to spend in the January transfer window despite Defoe's £15m capture.

The structure of the deal to bring the 26-year-old back, after leaving less than a year ago, means Spurs are not parting with what they view as a huge cash sum to seal the striker's signature.

That will allow Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to continue negotiating for layers such as Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing, with boss Redknapp wanting "three or four players" to bolster his squad for the second half of the season.

"We have not really got a squad. If you look at my team (against Burnley), that was the best I have available," said Redknapp.

"We have not got any strength in depth or cover - if Gareth Bale gets a knock, there is no-one else to play left-back.

"It is a badly-balanced, put-together squad, in all honesty, from day one."

Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah is on trial and could be one of several more fresh faces arriving during the transfer window.

Redknapp added: "I would like to get another three or four decent players in. I think we need to.

"We need a certain type here - we have got an awful lot of good little players, but we need more strength and a bit more power in the team."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Nothing against Tottenham but be honest with yourself where do your strikers figure

    My Top 15 all round strikers in the premier league WHAT'S YOURS?

    1 rooney
    2 torres
    3 Robinho
    4 drogba
    5 tevez
    6 Berbatov
    7 Anelka
    8 Van Persie
    9 Santa Cruz
    10 Yakubu
    11 Adebayor
    12 Owen
    13 Young
    14 Keane
    15 Maybe squeeze Defoe here at a push but if i'm honest Crouch/Bentnar give a better option

    From jinx, on Wed 7 Jan 1:21PM

  2. ON THE UP SPURS..........THANKS PORTSC"M FOR OUR MANAGER....................HE WAS NEVER STAYING AT A P155POT CLUB ON THE SOUTHCOAST ANYWAY...............................YOU'LL STRUGGLE TO BEAT THAT LOVELY CITY YOU SO WISH TO EMULATE NEXT SEASON, "SOUTHAMPTON"...................HA HA HA HA HA ....................I BET THEY ARE ENJOYING YOU LOSERS SQUIRM FOR LIFE................

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Wed 7 Jan 12:43PM

  3. Sick of the subject? Get off the site then!!!

    From nick, on Wed 7 Jan 9:21AM

  4. Pav's "made little impact"???

    From nick, on Wed 7 Jan 9:17AM

  5. The prodigal son returns.

    From ibexy, on Wed 7 Jan 8:42AM

  6. ok Spurs fans lets now move on, we're 1 game from wembley again.oh I can't help myself sorry pompey, passing shot thats why he has come back and your manager joined us!!

    From Wayne, on Wed 7 Jan 7:37AM

  7. anthony b,
    And that is what makes the whole affair so comical. As I said, it's like getting back with your ex, after discovering you've been locked out of the house and your belongings are in binliners on the sidewalk. What a laugh.
    The bottom line is that Jermain Defoe is nothing more than very little above average.

    From sappercommando25, on Wed 7 Jan 7:26AM

  8. Are we sick of this subject or what!
    Those Tot supporters booed him out before and will do so again.
    Anybody would think they made a massive signing. It's not, it's the usual waste of time and money from the club.
    To be fair, Pavlenko caught my eye a long time back, he could do well in a good side.

    From El-Tony., on Wed 7 Jan 6:32AM

  9. Defoe is a good player. Not the best, but more than just average. If Cappello thinks he is good, then anyone who does not think so is either ignorant or brainless. I expect Defoe to perform straight away.

    From Half A Brain, on Wed 7 Jan 3:54AM

  10. A bit like getting back with the ex.......the Premiership is just one big media circus....lololololololol

    From sappercommando25, on Wed 7 Jan 3:49AM

  11. Tell his Mum to buy him some decent clothes at least!

    From optimus prime, on Wed 7 Jan 3:45AM

  12. glad that defoe returns to white hart lane.go spurs! ;-)

    From Riesza R, on Wed 7 Jan 3:07AM

  13. im glad defoe came back to spurs he is a class player.ramos was a @#$% manager and should not of taken the spurs job well done to redknapp for the great work he has done a short time

    From jamiepeterfield, on Wed 7 Jan 1:58AM

  14. hahaha ..what a laugh! in the past 10 months defoe has lost out on two cups (FA cup with portsmouth and league cup with tottenham). Wonder how many he will win eventually??

    From sreenath N, on Wed 7 Jan 12:51AM

  15. I THINK HE'S HAVVIN A LARF, MATE. AND IF HE IS GAY, WOT D'YOU EXPECT? HE'S A F**KING SPURS FAN!!!!

    From IAN S, on Wed 7 Jan 12:40AM

  16. WHO DAT BLACK MAN WID DE STOOPID CAP?

    From IAN S, on Wed 7 Jan 12:34AM

  17. stephen D ur gay

    From saif, on Wed 7 Jan 12:28AM

  18. Iam glad Defo has returned because he's really cute and always gives me a stiffy. More to the point he's a great goal scorer and nobody celebrates with a nicer smile. Defoe for England and well done Harry for bringing him back. Defoe's fast, and has great agility with beautiful balance and did I say he looks cute. Oh, this is the icing on the cake and we all thought christmas had just finished.

    From Stephen D, on Wed 7 Jan 12:13AM

  19. Iam glad Defo has returned because he's really cute and always gives me a stiffy. More to the point he's a great goal scorer and nobody celebrates with a nicer smile. Defoe for England and well done Harry for bringing him back. Defoe's fast, and has great agility with beautiful balance and did I say he looks cute. Oh, this is the icing on the cake and we all thought christmas had just finished.

    From Stephen D, on Wed 7 Jan 12:13AM

  20. I must say I cannot get too worked up about this Defoe thing going on. I do not really rate him that highly sorry. However I did have a real good laugh when I read 189's observation that he looked like Norman Wisdom. I agree with you and you must be as old as me to remember that stuff. A gem thanks

    From taff, on Tue 6 Jan 11:35PM
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