Redknapp hopeful on Rafael

Spurs boss keen to see deal for Dutchman pushed through

Last updated: 1st September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

He is available now for about £8million. He is a quality player. He is a Dutch international and a great footballer.

Harry Redknapp.
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Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is 'hopeful' that Rafael van der Vaart will soon be joining the club.

Spurs swooped late for the Real Madrid midfielder on Tuesday and are still waiting on clearance before officially announcing the arrival of the Holland international.

Redknapp admits the agreement was rushed through with the 6pm deadline fast approaching and he is uncertain as to whether everything was completed in time.

He hopes he will be given good news by chairman Daniel Levy, as he believes Van der Vaart would be a useful addition to his already star-studded squad.

"It's still dragging on. We are just waiting to see whether it's all gone through," Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

"We are waiting for clearance. The chairman is dealing with it and Darren Eales the secretary, there is nothing more I can do now."

Quality

Redknapp revealed he turned his attention to Van der Vaart, a man who graced this summer's World Cup final, once it became apparent that Real were prepared to part with him in a cut-price deal.

"I think he was going to Bayern Munich yesterday for about £18million, but suddenly it became an awful lot cheaper," added the Spurs chief.

"He is available now for about £8million. He is a quality player. He is a Dutch international and a great footballer.

"For that sort of money, he is a top player and he will improve us for sure. We have made the effort, whether we can pull it off or not we will have to see.

"I am hopeful. It could happen. It was a last-minute job. When I came in this morning it certainly wasn't something I was looking to do."

Bargain

On the attributes Van der Vaart would bring to Tottenham, Redknapp said: "He is a great passer of the ball, he is a top footballer. He will join in here and play the way we like to play, he would be a big plus for us.

"He looked like he was going for £18million but then the fee came crashing down because the deadline got close. If the chairman can pull it off, I think he will have got a real bargain."

While Redknapp looks set to land one Dutchman, he insists he was never close to striking a deal with Liverpool for Ryan Babel.

He said: "We were interested in Ryan Babel. He has got pace, he is lightning quick and he was a player we made an enquiry for, but we never got that close."

Comments (21)

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Darren Dillon (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

What a great signing, well played Spurs! Though let¿s place the credit for the price where it¿s due. Harry only advises on players, he does not do the business deals; they are carried out by the Chairman Levy. Harry has said this on countless occasions, he is a great manager but is best left away from those purse strings.

Posted 11:27 1st September 2010

Simon Walker (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Richard Robinson - We''re guaranteed £20 million thanks to the Champions League qualification. The lad will only be getting approx £45k per week in wages too (he''s said ¿11 million over 4 years), so nothing that breaks the bank for us. Great signing if the FA give the go-ahead.

Posted 10:58 1st September 2010

Stewart Smith (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I have everything crossed that this deal goes through. I did not believe Spurs needed anymore midfield players but Van de Vaart is indeed a class above! & for £8m?? Harry will be before the beak for robbery at that price! Richard Robinson, Spurs are already one of the few solvent clubs in the PL & add to that the extra revenue generated by finishing 4th last season, the Champions League this, the 2 new Sponsors in PL & CL, sales of the new kit, etc puts us on a very firm financial footing. (going out in group stage of CL last season was worth 25m Euros!).

Posted 10:56 1st September 2010

Hinesh Babooa (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

dont count your chickens before theyre hatched i think the saying is.... hope it happens though, would be a great acquisition to our squad!! out with the old in with the new!!

Posted 10:51 1st September 2010

Greg Elliott (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Hope its happened. Spurs have the cash because Man Utd paid over 40m for Carrick and Berbatov, finished 4th in Prem League and pick up over 20m from Champions League qualification. They do not over inflate the transfer market but like good yiddos spend shrewdly. Cmon you Spurs

Posted 10:34 1st September 2010

Jason Berge (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Richard Robinson - The (up to) £20 million we get from making the Champions League group stages should be enough to cover VDV''s transfer and would have got us another quality striker to boot. Would have gladly ditched Pav/Keane to get us Luis Fabiano, oh well, hope Harry still has access to those funds in Jan!

Posted 09:48 1st September 2010

Mark Murphy (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I never saw this one coming! I thought at best we would end up with Babel. This guy is pure class and with the way we play he will fit in perfectly. The only worrying thing is we are overloaded with midfielders again! We failed again to get rid of Jenas and it looks like we are stuck with Hutton until at least January as well. Lets all keep our fingers crossed we will be seeing van der Vaart holding the shirt today and hopefully he will be in the side at the weekend!

Posted 09:39 1st September 2010

Bin Jamin (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Quality player, lets hope it goes through. If Arsenal were allowed to sign Arshavin 2 days after the transfer window, then surely if this was a few minutes late the authorities will pass it through.

Posted 09:38 1st September 2010

Andy Elstub (Doncaster Rovers fan) says...

Van der Vaart, for Tottenham, is an exceptional coup if they do indeed get him. I think Jose Mourinho, is crazy to let a player of his quality leave.....

Posted 22:17 31st August 2010

Richard Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I just worry where all this money is comming from that Spurs are spending. I remember it was only a couple of years ago that they where unable to buy anyone of notice and now they are splashing the cash like they are printing it themselves. I''m just worried and if someone can tell me where this has come from I''d be a relived supporter

Posted 22:14 31st August 2010

Jason Nevin (Manchester United fan) says...

didn''t he say last week that he''d only leave Madrid for Man United?

Posted 22:01 31st August 2010

Matt Bell (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

He would be an asset to an already brilliant squad!! We have done it without the Man City approach of ''Oh he looks good - lets chuck Millions at the club he belongs to'' That doesn''t win anything but how long will the Man City players sitting on the bench take to realise that money isnt footbal (its not a business but game!!! Spurs are a true Football team and Rafael is a true player - Bring him to the Lane!! COYS!!!!

Posted 21:57 31st August 2010

Hitz Od (Chelsea fan) says...

Top signing....a great player who has''nt had the chance to show the world what he can do.

Posted 21:44 31st August 2010

Bryan Wilkins (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

If we manage to get Van Der Vaart this would be a truly amazing signing! Wanted him at the club for a few years now so fingers crossed..... Well done Harry

Posted 21:36 31st August 2010

Barry Kinsella (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

i hope he signs he is amazing and would make us a stronger team to challenge the rest, its about time we moved up into the relm of challengers for the title. well done harry if this goes through.

Posted 21:28 31st August 2010

Rob Jones (Cardiff City fan) says...

This would be a real bargain if Spurs can pull it off. How can a player be sold for £10m less than what he was valued at 24hours previously?! Am once again gutted that Sergio Aguero won''t be gracing the Premier League in the near future. Would love to see him playing over here. Cardiff City to win automatic promotion to the Premiership this season...

Posted 21:02 31st August 2010

Adam Price (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Fantastic, what a brilliant deal. Van Der Vaart is a top quality player with bags of ability. If Harry the Hudini pulls this off, it will be one of the best coups in the last few years, especially at 8m! Imagine Lennon, Modric, Huddlestone and Van Der Vaart, with Kranjcar and palacios in reserve. Look out premier league title!

Posted 20:58 31st August 2010

Blair C (Rangers fan) says...

Talk about leaving it late, how does every transfer window end like this? Surely clubs catch on and buy their players at the start.

Posted 20:40 31st August 2010

Darren Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

If this goes through , then Harry''s pulled another rabbit from his hat . Van de Vaart has quality Scott Parker could only dream of and a bargain at 8 mil . COYS

Posted 20:39 31st August 2010

Edd Dee (Liverpool fan) says...

wow if this deal goes through it will probably be deal of the transfer window! van Der Vaart is a great player!

Posted 20:35 31st August 2010
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