Niko Kranjcar signs for Spurs as Martin Petrov deal dies

James Olley
2 Sep 2009

Tottenham are on the verge of completing the £2.5million signing of Portsmouth winger Niko Kranjcar in a deal that looked set to end Harry Redknapp's interest in Manchester City's Bulgarian star Martin Petrov.

Kranjcar, who was completing his medical today, will provide Tottenham with cover for Luka Modric, who picked up a broken fibula against Birmingham City at the weekend, leaving Redknapp without the player for at least six weeks.

With the Pompey star, who is also a Croatian international who had less than a year left on his contract at Fratton Park, seemingly in the bag there was no need to take on the Manchester City player who would have provided alternative cover.

Speculation this morning suggested that big-spending City were willing to send Petrov to White Hart Lane as part of a deal to take David Bentley in the opposite direction.

But this afternoon City said they were no longer interested in taking the former England international in this transfer window.

There were even reports that Petrov was in London this afternoon but sources at the club said there was no longer any need for the City star, and now Bentley will have to fight for his place at White Hart Lane.

The player has had an unhappy time at Spurs since his move from Blackburn and his drink driving ban last week just added to his problems.

He would have welcomed a reunion with Mark Hughes, who was his manager at Ewood Park, but his hopes died with this afternoon's statement from Eastlands.

The Kranjcar deal is an interesting one as Pompey's new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim had said he no longer needed to sell any players and had funds to buy new ones. Kranjcar is a fans' favourite at Fratton Park and his sale will heap more pressure on manager Paul Hart, who has yet to lead Pompey to a single point this season.

However, a deal has already been agreed to allow Tottenham's Jamie O'Hara to go to Fratton Park on a season-long loan which may have helped persuade the club to allow Kranjcar's exit.

There was also speculation that Redknapp may move for Portsmouth's goalkeeper David James but there had been no movement on any deal this morning. Pompey insisted they had received no offer for the England keeper.