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Harry Redknapp endures hit and miss transfer deadline day
Harry Redknapp endured a frustrating transfer deadline day, with the Tottenham Hotspur manager securing the services of just one of the five players he had hoped to sign before today's cut-off period.
Niko Kranjcar did join Spurs, for about £2m, but Redknapp missed out on another Portsmouth player, David James, as well as the Sunderland central defender Anton Ferdinand, the West Ham United centre-half Matthew Upson and the Manchester City midfielder Martin Petrov. Redknapp had hoped to exchange the Bulgarian for David Bentley.
Kranjcar is the third player Redknapp has signed from Portsmouth since he left the club for White Hart Lane last October, following Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch. The 25-year-old Croatia international, whom Redknapp brought to Fratton Park from Hajduk Split for £3.5m three years ago, will offer cover for his compatriot Luka Modric, who is out for about two months with a fractured leg.
Redknapp described Kranjcar as a "terrific player". "He was in the last year of his contract at Portsmouth, so it is a good deal for both clubs," he added. "I think Portsmouth have got a good price."
The signing brings Redknapp's spending since taking over at Tottenham to more than £60m. But he was keen to make further additions, despite recording four wins from the opening four games of this season, with central defence a priority. Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson are both currently injured.
Tottenham approached Sunderland about a loan-swap involving Ferdinand and Alan Hutton, and although Steve Bruce was keen on bringing the Scotland defender to the Stadium of Light, he would not consider losing Ferdinand.
Redknapp said his chairman, Daniel Levy, had "made inquiries" about signing Upson but that a deal was never likely to succeed after West Ham sold James Collins to Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Redknapp's hopes of getting James were ended by Levy, who was not willing to sanction a move for a 39-year-old with little or no resale value. The deal was described by Redknapp as "never a possibility".
The arrival of Petrov was more possible but with City's interest in Bentley thought to be minimal, and Tottenham's offer for the 30-year-old too low, that transfer also fell through. Petrov's agent said his client's move fell through due to the "unwillingness" of City's manager, Mark Hughes.
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