Defender now a priority - Redknapp - Sport in brief

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Spurs had been favourites to sign England international Peter Crouch but Redknapp concedes that injuries to Michael Dawson, Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King mean a move for a defender has now become his priority.

"We weren't thinking of buying anyone in defence but suddenly this problem has come up all of a sudden and it leaves us short," said Redknapp.

"Suddenly your priorities change and you think maybe we'll have to do something about getting a centre half in for the start of the season because we have no central defenders."

Portsmouth are thought to be keen to offload Crouch for £12million. Earlier this week Sunderland pulled out of the race for the striker, who is reportedly unwilling to leave the capital.

Redknapp says he would like to bring the player to White Hart Lane but admits resolving his defensive problems is his main priority.

He also insists any move for the 28-year-old must represent value for money.

"I like Crouch but at the moment I have four good strikers so it's not really a priority for us," said Redknapp, who signed the England striker while he was manager at both Southampton and Portsmouth.

"He's a good player and most teams would like to have him but the whole package looks expensive to me. We're not desperate at the moment for strikers. It's an awful lot of money for a 28 or 29 year old.

"No disrespect to him but it's an expensive deal because there's no return when you pay that type of money and obviously his salary is high so I don't know if it is possible for us to do that deal."