Rafael van der Vaart has called on Tottenham to keep Emmanuel Adebayor at White Hart Lane.
Dutchman pleads with club to sign loan star
Rafael van der Vaart has called on Tottenham to keep Emmanuel Adebayor at White Hart Lane.
Adebayor, who scored twice in Sunday's 3-1 win over Swansea, is currently on a season-long loan switch from Manchester City.
It has been suggested Tottenham's chances of signing Adebayor on a permanent basis could be scuppered by the player's wages.
However, Van der Vaart hopes the former Arsenal man will stay at Spurs and rates the Togo international as one of the best strikers he has played with.
"He is a great player for us, works his socks off and we love him here," Van der Vaart told the
London Evening Standard.
"He played for Real Madrid, Arsenal and City and I was surprised he came but I hope he stays.
Top striker
"He is a top striker, one of the best I've played with. I played with Ruud van Nistelrooy, (with Real Madrid and Holland) he was fantastic.
"Normally strikers wait for their chances and score but he [Adebayor] is working and even when he doesn't score he is still important for the team and that's what makes him a big man for us.
"Last season I had a good understanding with [Peter] Crouch but with him it's even better. He is tall, strong and also is not selfish."
Van der Vaart joked he is so keen to see Adebayor stay that he would sacrifice some of his own salary to keep the African at the club
"I think he doesn't need it but I will ask him," added van der Vaart.
