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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Arsenal In £50 Million Summer Spending Spree

Plagued with injuries throughout the season to the extent that a new/old goalkeeper had to be brought in for back up, as well as being tormented with off form players slipping up a crucial times in massive matches, and Arsene Wenger is understandably frustrated. He must be wondering what he has done wrong to deserve the punishment of seeing his loyal but exhausted players suffer in this way. It isn't all bad when you consider Arsenal's position in the table - three points behind the leaders with a game in hand - but this season could have been about so much more than just the Premier League crown.

It is perhaps no wonder then, that Arsenal are being linked to two big money players to boost the squad this summer - give it some well needed depth, diversity and energy. These two players are Bolton's Gary Cahill and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. I honestly cannot see it myself. It isn't that the two players wouldn't fit into the squad; Cahill, a strong, reliable, often goal scoring centre back would be welcomed in the beleaguered defence, while Benzema will have no shortage of fellow countrymen to communicate with (not to mention being a top class front man).  The rumours really get unbelievable when the price is quoted.

Cahill and Benzema are being valued at £25 million by the news sources. That's £25 million each. Probably around £40 million more than Wenger would dream of spending. His cautious, low profile approach to the transfer market has caused plenty of frustration among even patient supporters, as they await their first trophy for six years. It may yet come this year, but it will undoubtedly be very close, and with all of the teams around them certain to improve their squads in the summer, Arsenal do not want to be left behind at the start of next season in a year which looks to be even more competitive and tight than even this year has been so far.

Manchester United are apparently Arsenal's competition for the 25 year-old Cahill. United have seen a Vidic - Smalling partnership blossom in the absence of the seemingly always injured Rio Ferdinand, and if Ferdinand ever does receive further injures which is highly likely, United will need a top quality replacement. There have also been unsettling murmurings of Vidic's future as a United player as his wife apparently doesn't like it in Manchester. The Wes Brown - Chris Smalling defensive partnership has been poor so far, and Sir Alex will look for a new defender to banish any defensive worries in the future.

A bidding war is something neither side would want however, with Arsenal's reluctance to spend, and United's crushing debts reducing the possibility of big money signings.
"The Trotters [Bolton] are bracing themselves for bids in the summer, and both Arsenal and Manchester United are expected to come to the table at some point with an offer for the England international.Chelsea are also thought to be keen on landing the player, with the west London outfit also interested in the 25-year-old former Aston Villa defender.Arsenal are still thought to be favourites though, although the Gunners will have to fight hard to see off Manchester United if these claims are to be believed."

Meanwhile, Wenger is supposedly a "big fan" of Benzema who was bought by Madrid from Lyon for £35 million two seasons ago. It is easy to see why, as Benzema has masses of exactly what Wenger is always looking for, craving for, searching for: "potential".

17 goals in 52 appearances this season isn't to impressive, but his previous form is far more impressive, with one season amassing 20 goals in just 36 appearances. A partnership of van Persie and Benzema would also be a vast improvement to what they have at the moment, and would add he depth up front which has been lacking.

Sir Alex Ferguson had tried to bring Benzema to United before he joined Madrid, but I doubt he would be after him again after being turned down already.

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