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

Comment 149 - 168 of 228

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  1. OHHHHHHHHHHHHH YES , COME ON BURNELY, LOOK OUT HARRYS­ ON THE PHONE ALREADY ,HAHAHAH

    From Yvonne, on Tue 6 Jan 8:44PM

  2. ROCK AND ROLL you have no place on this sports site,­ you insult others football fans, shame on you. you are­ a very troubled person and needs some help !!!! good­ luck to pompey and spurs ... as i am a football fan !!!

    From kerriebarton, on Tue 6 Jan 8:34PM

  3. Keep it up harry 0-1 no what i mean

    From malcolm, on Tue 6 Jan 8:29PM

  4. i want defoe to go back to his aold teams with his­ mates agian that were he is better !!!!

    From Leticia, on Tue 6 Jan 8:26PM

  5. COME ON BURNLEY - ONE NIL, GET IN!!!!

    From MARGARET T, on Tue 6 Jan 8:16PM

  6. Defoe made his fame first at Charlton then at West Ham,­ that's why spurs bought him from West Ham, because­ he made a name for himself, why else would they have­ bought him???? D'OH!!!

    From Denise, on Tue 6 Jan 8:13PM

  7. isnt it dating not deating haha

    From Yvonne, on Tue 6 Jan 8:12PM

  8. clofemi its not soccer its FOOTBALL

    From kevosryan, on Tue 6 Jan 8:03PM

  9. What a load of tosh harry no what i mean

    From malcolm, on Tue 6 Jan 8:00PM

  10. WHAT A LOAD OF TOSH

    From malcolm, on Tue 6 Jan 7:57PM

  11. Guys, is this a deating site? Or is there any link­ between Defoe returning back to Spurs and someone­ looking for a boyfriend? Can somebody tell­ "Daivihenry02" that this is not the right­ site to look for boyfriend or girlfriend. Please, stop­ this joke "daivihenry02". We are talking­ soccer here and not love-site. ­

    Fair-me 4rm Canada

    From oluwafemi, on Tue 6 Jan 7:56PM

  12. First I wish to congratulate Defoe for making the best­ decision of his life to return back to where he made­ his fame. How I wish the likes of Owen, Viera, and­ Henri took this step life would have been more­ interesting for them. I am still hoping Liverpool will­ accept Owen back because I love him to come back home.I­ equally want to thank the management of Spurs for their­ open hands when Defoe decided to come back home. My­ only concern is if he is not going to leave again when­ Harri is sacked or something because I dont know if he­ loyal to Harry or the club. Please, Benitez, accept our­ prodigal son, Owen and let Kean return back home as­ well. Plzzzzzzzzz!

    From oluwafemi, on Tue 6 Jan 7:44PM

  13. fantastic to see defoe back, looking forward to the­ 18th jan versus portsmouth, interesting comments from­ terryellie, the majority of players that left tottenham­ wanted to leave & to blame daniel levy is a bit­ drastic, this man admitted his @#$% up & in doing­ so, sacked ramos & the other 3 muppets then­ appointed a manager who will keep tottenham in the­ premiership. we can all name great players from 30 or­ 40 years ago but it's 2009 get down to tottenham­ & cheer them on, don't just moan on here

    From nseventeenyid, on Tue 6 Jan 7:33PM

  14. good choice for both defoe and harry!!!! :P

    defoe is­ back baby!!

    (im not a Tottenham fan btw)

    From vincentdeoliveira16, on Tue 6 Jan 7:29PM

  15. CALLING ALL POMPEY FANS - LET'S NOT FORGET WHAT­ HARRY DID FOR THE CLUB, LET'S CONTINUE TO BACK OUR­ REMAINING PLAYERS, MANAGER AND BOARD. AND ABOVE ALL -­ LET'S NOT FORGET WE ARE THE CURRENT FA CUP HOLDERS­ AND LIVED THE DREAM LAST YEAR (ACHIEVED WITHOUT JERMAIN­ DEFOE). PLAY UP POMPEY!

    From MARGARET T, on Tue 6 Jan 7:28PM

  16. LOL YVONNE - SPOT THE DELIBERATE MISTAKE EH?

    From MARGARET T, on Tue 6 Jan 7:20PM

  17. IS "no" in your comment, spurs slang for know­ hahahaha

    From Yvonne, on Tue 6 Jan 7:14PM

  18. IF YOU WERE A TRUE SPURS FAN YOU WOULD NO THAT THE FEE­ THAT POMPEY HAVE AGREED OF 15 MILLION THAT 4 MILLION IS­ RETURNABLE TO SPURS FOR THE SELL ON CLAUSE THAT WAS IN­ HIS CONTRACT WHEN HE LEFT SPURS.SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST SO­ IGNORANT TO FACTS AND STATS AND JUST MAKE UP RUBBISH IN­ THERE HEAD WITHOUT THE INS AND OUTS.

    From alison.hudspeth, on Tue 6 Jan 7:04PM

  19. Nice investment by Pompey!! They doubled their money!!­ I wish Benitez could do the same.

    From Luke C, on Tue 6 Jan 7:00PM

  20. despite following Spurs since 1949 I must admit that­ the current sitution is almost farcical. First they­ keep sacking the managers, then when they get a good­ one (Martin Jol) they get rid of him and bring in­ someone who was hopeless, couldn't speak the­ language, got rid of the players who had the potential­ to get the team in the top four and brought in a number­ of expensive players who he didn't play because­ they weren't good enough. Finally they bring in a­ decent manager and buy back a player they shouldn't­ have sold having let go players who were under­ contract. I wouldn't mind but they sold them to­ teams they want to be the equal of. I despair of Spurs­ ever getting back players like White, Jones, Kinnear,­ Mackay, England, Greaves, Gilzean, Peters etc who­ remained loyal and loved the club as much as the­ supporters. I blame Daniel Levy for most of the­ disgraceful decisions which have almost made us a­ laughing stock

    From terryellie.russ, on Tue 6 Jan 6:28PM
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