Spurs currently have 15 players on loan, that’s the most ever in the club’s 126 year history.
Players on loan include, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Adel Tarrabt.
Meanwhile, rumours are gathering pace that Tottenham Hotspur and shirt sponsor Mansion are to part company.
The £34mln, four-year-deal struck in 2006, officially runs out at the end of next season, so any announcement about the deal not being renewed would not come as huge surprise. See more on Vital Football.
In other news, according to the Telegraph, Harry Redknapp has played down his rift with the Football Association over centre-back Ledley King’s re-call to the England squad, saying he would be happy for the defender to play at the 2010 World Cup.
Former Tottenham and England centre-half ace Gary Mabbutt, says Fabio Capello’s handling of Ledley King’s call-up left a lot to be desired, according to Sky news.
Like King, 28, Gary Mabbutt has experience leading the Spurs defence and playing with damaged cartilage in his knee.
The same problem that ultimately ended Mabbutt’s career, now prevents King from regular training. However, against the wishes Harry Redknapp, the England Boss has called King into his squad for games against Slovakia and Ukraine – only to release him back to Spurs two days later
Spurs win against Chelsea (1-0) on Saturday, with a goal from midfielder Luka Modric, stretched the club’s recent run to six unbeaten and one defeat in nine in Premier League games and took them into the top 10 for 24 hours.
(Manchester City and Wigan’s respective wins on Sunday moved us back to 11th.)
Meanwhile, it seems Redknapp might send Alan Hutton back to Glasgow Rangers as he starts a fresh in the summer and looks to swoop England international Glen Johnson.
The Metro reports, Redknapp is a huge fan of Johnson’s ability after being in charge of the player at West Ham and Portsmouth.
Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes yesterday said he felt he had finally found his feet in the Premier League.
Robbie Keane was quick to show his support for the goal-stopper, who he believes has now adapted very well to the English game after a difficult start to the season.
Meanwhile, according to yesterday’s Daily Mirror Spurs, Aston Villa, Fulham and Manchester City are all competing to sign Sheffield United’s Kyle Naughton.
The 20-year-old right-back, is valued at about £4m after an excellent season in which he has made two appearances for Stewart Pearce’s England under-21 side.
In other news, striker Roman Pavlyuchenko,27, insists his reserve-team outing against Chelsea on Monday was simply to get get game-time after sitting out of Spurs’ 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at the weekend.
Spurs’ reserve team beat Chelsea 4-0, with goals from Frazier Campbell (2), Pascal Chimbonda and Tom Huddlestone.
Spurs victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park yesterday boosts their survival chances and centre-back Jonathan Woodgate now hopes for a place in Europe.
Jermaine Jenas’ early header and Darren Bent’s second half tap-in dealt a huge blow to Aston Villa’s Champion league hopes but puts Spurs four points off seventh, and a place in the re-vamped Europa League next season.
Spurs have now taken 33 points from 21 games under Harry Redknapp.
Meanwhile, there is a chance that David Beckham could return home next season after Harry Redknapp today said he is prepared to offer the star a Premier League lifeline at Tottenham if his proposed return to AC Milan breaks down. Full story (Mirror).
Spurs take on Aston Villa this afternoon (4pm, KO) after Redknapp earlier this week said that he hopes to emulate high-flying Villa and enter the race for UEFA Champions League qualification next year.
Spurs’ unbeaten stretch could be hampered by Villa today, who have played exceptional football this season under Martin O’Neill despite a recent drop in form.
Spurs have only won one in the last 20 contests with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Jamie O’Hara admitted this week that he had an inkling that Villa would excel this season.
Meanwhile, Tom Huddlestone,22, said that he is desperate to help Spurs climb the Premier League table in their reamining fixtures. But the midfielder admits he does not know whether or not he is a part of Redknapp’s plans for the end of the season.
Victory over Villa today would be a great result and a real help for a strong finish.
Also Redknapp has paid tribute to Luka Modric saying that the Croatian star has got better and better as the season has progressed. And that his current position – on the left – is bringing the best out of him.
Giovanni Dos Santos has gone on loan to Ipswich Town until the end of the season. The Mexican goes straight into the squad for the Championship encounter at Reading on Saturday.
Harry Redknapp plans to sign German teen sensation Bilal Marzouki in the summer, according to reports.
The Mainz midfielder was seen by Spurs scouts at a tournament in Wiesbaden back in January, where the 17-year-old finished finished top scorer and was voted best player.
David Bentley will end his miserable spell at Spurs in the summer with a move to Martin O’Neill’s Aston villa for £9million.
The Tottenham winger has endured a torrid time since his £15million move from Blackburn last year.
And his dire season was compounded with a missed penalty in Spurs’ Carling Cup final shootout defeat to Manchester United last weekend.
Home fans jeered when his name was announced before the victory over Middlesbrough last week as Redknapp kept him on the bench.
David Bentley’s time at the Lane has been a troubled one and under Redknapp he has found times even tougher.
The talk is that Spurs would settle for a fee in the region of £9million for the England international despite splashing out £15million for him last summer, and apparently he would be happy with a move to the midlands club.
Club captain Robbie Keane today expressed his belief that Spurs can go from strength to strength under Harry Redknapp after a somewhat “strange” season is safely negotiated
While Redknapp insists every point is precious from now until the end of the season, he is confident that Spurs will remain in the Premier League because the team has the quality needed, despite their scramble at the bottom of the table.
Spurs are playing some of their best football at the moment but with Aston Villa next and then in-form Chelsea under Guus Hiddink, it’s going to be tough picking up any points over the next fortnight. It’s going be tricky but picking up even two points would be a great result.
It’s been a big week for Spurs with plenty of action, on and off the pitch, to talk about.
The week started well at the Lane with Spurs beating Middlesbrough (4-0) in a truly exceptional display, with clever passing, great wide play and good finishing.
Keane hit the net first within the 15 minutes of the kick-off, follwed by a flurry of goals from Pavlyuchenko and then Lennon before the half time break. Lennon who had an outstanding game, if at times slightly let down by his final ball, slotted home to make it 4.
Jamie O’Hara and Tom Huddlestone came on as second half substitutes and both put in a good performance, Huddlestone with some great passing (although his energy and work rate was dire) and O’Hara who was welcomed to the pitch with a standing ovation from the home fans, showed real grit and determination for further goals.
Middlesbrough looked tired and had a poor shape, they scored twice but both ruled out for offside.
Meanwhile the following night at the Lane are youth team lost in the FA Cup youth quarter-final to Arsenal 3-1. Spurs scored first within the opening minutes but half way through the second half Arsenal, who to be fair looked the better side throughout, drew level, only to snatch the victory with two late goals in the 87th and 90th minute respectively.
As for yesterday at Sunderland, Spurs looked likely to leave with nothing despite dominating the game. Spurs conceeded an early goal by Kieron Richardson but then dominated play and possession throughout. They couldn’t however penetrate until the dying minutes wwth a Robbie Keane strike which snatched a vital, although well deserved point away from home.
In terms of midfield play, which really sparked against ‘Boro on Tuesday, they looked somewhat disorganised yesterday and struggled to impose. They won only 43 per cent of their tackles at Sunderland, against the home side’s 73 per cent.
Although, Jenas and Palacios have only played together for a few games, Keane has only just slotted into the team,and the back four keeps changing (Chimbonda has barely played left back before, and when he has, he’s been terrible), Redknapp switches between Pavlyuchenko and Bent every game, Huddlestone and Zokora keep making sporadic cameos, etc. So it’s no wonder that the Spur’s midfield looks disjointed… perhaps it just needs time?
Meanwhile, Jermaine Defoe has denied a string of motoring offences, which includes allowing someone to drive his car without insurance.
