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Defiant Redknapp insists leading men are staying put
Tom Collomosse13.03.09
Harry Redknapp today declared that Tottenham's top stars like Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon are not for sale at any price this summer.
Liverpool showed an interest in Lennon, who has been outstanding in recent matches, during January, and are expected to test Spurs' determination to keep the 21-year-old when the season ends.
Italian giants Inter Milan and Juventus are also keen on Croatian playmaker Modric, who has generally thrived under Redknapp's command after an unimpressive start under former manager Juande Ramos.
Spurs fans have come to dread the summer after watching key men Michael Carrick, Robbie Keane - who rejoined the club from Liverpool in January - and Dimitar Berbatov all leave White Hart Lane in recent seasons for clubs involved in the Champions League.
Yet Redknapp has vowed to change this policy. He said: "We have some good players here, and we are going to keep hold of our best players.
"There is a lot of talk about one or two leaving, but we're not going to be selling any of our best players in the summer - that is for sure. We will keep them here, because the chairman, Daniel Levy, wants to hang on to our best players.
"It was just one of those things last year, because Berbatov wanted to go and Robbie also went, but we have to make sure the best ones stay here."
Redknapp needs Modric and Lennon to be at their best on Sunday, when Spurs - who are only four points above the relegation zone - face a tough test at fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Reader views (9)
You saw on Sunday that Villa's players are looking very jaded after the season so far and O'Neill just doesn't have the depth of squad to rest them. Contrast this
to Spurs who have a fantastic squad, so much so that they could afford to let Giovanni and Gunter go out on loan and they are both very good players. I Think Harry will struggle though to hold on to the likes of Bale, Huddlestone and one or two others in the summer.
- Arthur Blundell, chelmsford
The decision will go out of his hands if he does not just concentrate on keeping Spurs up ..... already thinking of transfers, the summer etc ......... Juventus & Liverpool ..... what are you on about .... should be talking about Villa this weekend .... Harry concentrate otherwise Modric & Lennon will be the least of our worries come May 09 .....
- Melly, Cartagena
I like Harry, but he will need to build his team on the Spurs tradition, players coming through the ranks with good quality players, who can play the Spurs way!
As well as committed players, who will roll their sleeves up and fight for the club!
It doesn't matter if we have Jol, Mourinho or Capello..
- Adrian, london
The only way we would see Mourinho at WHL is if he got lost!
- Cormac, Whitstable Kent
dont be silly arry danny boy will sell sell sell everytime a big club comes sniffing and thats why i wont be renewing me season ticket no more i've had enough being told porkies by levy and co .
- Steve, braintree
How can a feeder club come 5th twice? Our business is developing, who?
We have bought some players who came through the ranks at other clubs, where our next Ledley King? Jamie O'hara, good to see, after that....We need to be like Man Utd.. 2 teams both with quality in them!
- Adrian, london
Harry needs to concentrate one hundred percent on avoiding the drop - and worry about who's going where or whose staying at WHL (including himself) if and when top-flight football next season is guaranteed.
- Ted, London
More likely they will be sold, bought back & given higher wages. I am finding 'twitch' increasingly irritating & would love to see Mourinho at WHL.
- Rob Hotspurs, South London
Levy wants to keep our best players!!! . Harry needs to understand he is at a "feeder club", this is our business buying, developing and selling.
- David Lewington, Lewes; UK
