harry redknapp

THE Premier League are set to confirm a nine-point deduction for Portsmouth later today as the club's administrator yesterday revealed that talks with a takeover consortium have yet to lead to any proof of funds being produced. League chiefs will meet administrator Andrew Andronikou ahead of a board meeting today where the points deduction is expected to be rubber-stamped. He will also update the league on a proposed bid for the club by a group of unknown investors being fronted by property developer  

The Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, has received positive news over Tom Huddlestone's ankle injury following a second scan on the midfielder's damaged ligaments. Huddlestone, who was hurt in a challenge by Everton's John Heitinga during Spurs' victory at White Hart Lane last month, is understood to be progressing well in recovery and is not considered a long-term absentee, although no date has been set for his comeback. Redknapp needs Huddlestone back as Wilson Palacios is his only fit out-and-out

The negotiations with Tottenham have been going on since last summer, but now we are in the key moment. The deal is agreed and we will sign this week. I don't expect that to change because the agreement has been made between all parties.   -Vittorio Piffero

 

Internacionale president Vittorio Piffero claims Tottenham's deal for Brazilian youngster Sandro is imminent. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has previously revealed his interest in the 21-year-old Sandro, with chairman Daniel Levy negotiating with Internacionale since before the last transfer window. Piffero said: "The negotiations with Tottenham have been going on since last summer, but now we are in the key moment.

The negotiations with Tottenham have been going on since last summer, but now we are in the key moment.   -Vittorio Piffero

 

Harry Redknapp believes Peter Crouch has to go to the World Cup - even though the England striker cannot get into the Tottenham team. The 29-year-old again found himself warming the bench for the Barclays Premier League clash against Blackburn on Saturday, as Russian Roman Pavlyuchenko continued his fine form with a brace in the 3-1 victory which kept Spurs in the top four. Crouch, though, remains one of the most consistent performers with England, taking his tally to 20 goals from 37 caps when he sco  

That was the question Martin O'Neill and the rest of the claret and blue faithful will have been asking themselves as they made the short trip back down the M6 on Saturday tea-time. Was this hard-fought draw a potentially decisive point on the yellow-brick road paving the way to the riches and razzmatazz of the Champions League? Or was it another nail in the coffin for Villa's top-four hopes providing another example of their inability to put teams to the sword?  

David Beckham has undergone surgery in Finland after rupturing his Achilles tendon while playing for AC Milan on Sunday night. The England midfielder has been ruled out of action for up to six months and will miss the World Cup in South Africa this summer. Liverpool kept their Champions League ambitions alive with a 4-1 home win over Portsmouth on Monday night to move up to fifth in the Premier League.

We just can't get him right. He's had a few goes and broken down. He's been back to the specialist. We're taking our time again. He works every day with the physios and hopefully he will be working back outside shortly but he's not ready to join the group again. He's quite a way off.   -Harry Redknapp

 

HARRY REDKNAPP began to implement his plans for next season last night when Tottenham Hotspur agreed a deal to sign Sandro for £9m. The Brazil defensive midfield player will not arrive until the end of summer, after he has played for Internacional in the Copa Libertadores in August. Internacional, who own 70 per cent of the player's rights, turned down approaches from Tottenham in the past two transfer windows for Sandro, who was 21 yesterday.  

The move by Johnson to Manchester City has improved his chances of selection and the left-footed winger, who can also play on the right, could force his way into contention for the 30-strong provisional squad for South Africa. At present, however, Capello believes it is too early for Johnson, although he has earmarked the 22 year-old as a possibility for his squad after this summer's tournament. That could change if England suffer further injuries and if Joe Cole fails to regain his form at Chelsea.  

Niko Kranjcar tells us how the squad has 'stepped up to the plate' in an interview available now on Spurs TV Online and the official Spurs App. The Croatian midfielder spoke to us at Spurs Lodge on Monday following Saturday's 3-1 win against Blackburn in the Barclays Premier League. We've lost the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, David Bentley, Ledley King and Aaron Lennon to injury in recent weeks and that has forced Harry Redknapp into a reshuffle with Luka Modric central, Gareth Bale wide l

The main thing is that we're winning games   -Niko Kranjcar