Man City will carry on spending - Redknapp

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp expects Manchester City to persist with their lavish spending spree until they have claimed both the Premier League and Champions League.



Redknapp's side travel to Eastlands tonight to face a City side poised to claim the fourth Champions League spot, and the Tottenham boss believes that qualification for Europe's elite competition will signal a fresh wave of signings this summer.



Redknapp attributes City's success to the £300million outlay to fund the signings of players like Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Yaya Toure since Sheikh Mansour's takeover in September 2008.



Several big names have been linked with a move to Eastlands, and Redknapp claims that up to two stellar names have already been signed up to further boost Mancini's options.



"The man from Abu Dhabi has got so much money, I mean, it isn't like money to him is it?" Redknapp said.



"That's the key. I know people in the right positions there (at City) who have said 'Well, the one thing we couldn't offer was Champions League football.'



"But they tell me they've got one or two players signed already who'll blow your brains out. I mean, that's where they're going.



"They aren't going to stop until they win the championship and even then the Champions League, are they?"



Redknapp's own team surpassed all expectations to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League this year and the 64-year-old thinks City will be good enough to go all the way in Europe next season and win the Premier League too.



"I think they will win the Premier League in the next few years," Redknapp added.



"I think they can be a real force next year. They've got a strong squad which is only going to get better now, because they've got unlimited funds to buy anybody they want, and they can pay the wages.



"They've got players there now earning £200,000 a week. I mean, it's crazy, isn't it? It's another world really, isn't it?"



Redknapp admits there is little he, or any other managers in the league, can do to stop City dominating the transfer market.



"I have a long-term plan. I'm going to work hard with the under-nines, he joked.



"What can you do though?" he added. "I don't know. We'll have another go next year. We've got good players here. It's hard but we are close this year."



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Redknapp : I Wanted To Sign Ozil For Tottenham

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has revealed that he wanted to bring Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil to White Hart Lane last summer.

The Germany international midfielder played a big part in Spurs’ Champions League elimination this month.

Redknapp rates the midfielder as the best he faced in Europe this season, telling The Sun: “When you whittle it down, you are left staring at the Real Madrid team sheet.

“The German midfielders Mesut Ozil, who I fancied at one stage, and Sami Khedira stand out.”

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Redknapp defends Gomes after blunder

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Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has refused to criticise goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes after his error against Real Madrid.



A relatively tame shot from Cristiano Ronaldo squirmed through the hands of Gomes as Real claimed a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane in the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash to progress 5-0 on aggregate.



But Redknapp refused to apportion blame onto the keeper.



"It was a mistake and it was a disappointing goal to concede but I'm not about to start blaming the keeper as he has been great for me ever since I took over as manager," said Redknapp.



"Gomes made a rare mistake but that is how it goes.



"He has made fantastic saves for us that he has had no right to make at times this season. I have no complaints."



Redknapp thinks Spurs were denied a couple of clear penalties, one coming as Luka Modric was bundled over by Xabi Alonso.



"It was definitely a foul on Modric but sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't," he said.



"Sometimes I am left wondering what the official behind the goal is supposed to be doing."



The Spurs boss feels that Real will have a battle on their hands if they are to come rivals Barcelona in the semi-finals.



"Barca are the best team I've seen in the last 30 years. I don't think there is anyone out there who can touch them," he concluded.



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Harry Redknapp Not Ready To Sign Connor Wickham

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has ruled out a £10million summer move for Ipswich striker Connor Wickham.

Tractor Boys boss Paul Jewell recently admitted that he is struggling to keep the wonderkid, now age 18, with Spurs and Liverpool interested.

However Tottenham chief Redknapp said: “I don’t see us paying the sort of money that Ipswich are talking about.

“He’s not someone who’d be ready to play in the first team next season.

“He’d be better off staying for another year.”

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Redknapp critical of Real Madrid players' conduct

Harry Redknapp has accused Real Madrid's players of deliberately trying to get Peter Crouch sent off in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final 4-0 defeat at the Bernabeu.



Tottenham's suffered a serious blow 15 minutes into the first leg when Crouch was sent off for his second foul on a Real defender.



Redknapp was not impressed by the way that Real defender Pepe immediately pleaded with referee Felix Brych to send the striker off after the second foul.



"They made a meal of it. They made sure they got him sent off,'' Redknapp told talkSPORT. "When it happened they were all after the referee and overacting and the player was rolling around.''



Crouch apologised to his team-mates for the dismissal and Redknapp insists he holds nothing against the striker.



"Crouchy made a mistake and no one could feel more sorry than he does,'' Redknapp said. "He's been great for me over the years. He's made a mistake. These things can happen.''



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Redknapp doubt over King future

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he is uncertain how long Ledley King will be able to continue playing as a degenerative knee problem continues to affect his ability to train.



King, 30, has been at Spurs his entire career and is club captain - but due to his knee injury he is unable to train regularly.



The centre back was named among the substitutes for Tottenham's 0-0 Champions League draw with Milan and it was the first time he has featured in a matchday squad since October 16.



King has played just four games this season and has been suffering with a groin injury that Redknapp believes can be attributed to his restricted training regime.



"You have to train," Redknapp said. "You can't just come on Saturdays and expect to be the best player. Ledley has got away with not training all week and you can't do that for long. I think now he's finding it more difficult, as suddenly he's picked up a few more injuries.



"He's got a problem with his groin and we took a gamble with him [against Milan]. We just keep our fingers crossed for him and Jonathan Woodgate because they're fantastic centre halves. We're lucky that Michael Dawson has been brilliant and William Gallas has done a great job for us as well."





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