SPURS boss Harry Redknapp has claimed that Manchester City’s spending power has affected the rest of the Premiership.
While Tottenham are yet to show their hand in the pre-season transfer market, Manchester City have already signed Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz – two players that Redknapp admits he was interested in.
Big-spending City are also said to have offered Chelsea skipper John Terry a massive £300,000 a week to move north, and Samuel Eto’o is also on their radar.
‘I’m looking to strengthen the squad and we’ve made inquiries for some good players,’ said Redknapp. ‘But it’s very difficult. City have blown us out of the water. Regarding two of the players we were strong on, in the end we could not compete with Manchester City. They are working on another level with the wages they can offer.
‘We liked Barry and Santa Cruz but when it came to it we just weren’t at the races. The wages they offer have gone sky high. Glen Johnson has gone to Liverpool and is picking up two-anda- half times the wages he was getting at Portsmouth.
‘There is no doubt City are making it very difficult for the rest. Barry only had a year left on his contract and would have been a terrific signing for us, but they are probably paying him double what we would have given him, so we had no chance.’
‘I think we can pick up from where we left off at the end of last season,’ he added. ‘When it comes to signing players it means we have to adjust our sights accordingly.
‘If you’re clever you can still get good players. Look at Sir Alex Ferguson’s signing of Michael Owen. I think he’s done well to get him. People may criticise him, but he’s taken a player on a free transfer who could go and get 20 goals next season in a team like that. I think it’s a fantastic signing and Alex will get as much pleasure out of that if it comes as he would paying £30million for Tevez.
‘I did that with Kanu. I took him to Portsmouth on a free from West Bromwich and people wondered whether I was mad.
‘But he did unbelievably well for me. He scored the winning goal in a cup semi and a final. When you take somebody like that and everybody doubts you there’s nothing better when it comes off.
‘There are players around like that; there are still some bargains to be had, it’s just finding the right ones.’
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