Harry Redknapp has claimed quite strongly that he is not a Wheeler Dealer, he is a football manager.
“I’m not a wheeler dealer, f**k off”
Harry Redknapp to Sky’s Rob Palmer, 2010
Pretty clear cut. However the end of the transfer window is here and Harry, as well as his fellow Premier League managers, will be scouring the market looking for a bargain or two. Here’s what could still transpire in the transfer market before the window slams shut at 11pm on January the 31st.
QPR
In many ways Harry Redknapp and Queens Park Rangers seem like a match made in heaven. The amount of transfer activity that each have seen over the last 18 months is bordering on the absurd, so it should come as no surprise that Rangers seem to have their fingers in a number of transfer pies as the deadline approaches.
Let’s call him a bargain shopper rather than a wheeler dealer, but Redknapp’s transfer dealings have become a thing of legend. He brought established Premier League players and full internationals like Brad Friedel, William Gallas, Scott Parker and Niko Kranjčar to Spurs for a combined £7million while also taking the highly rated Loic Remy from under the noses of Newcastle this month. It’s hard to imagine that Remy would have opted to join any other team had they have sat adrift at the foot of the Prem, but Harry has a knack for the unfathomable.
With QPR still in turmoil Harry seems to be ready to turn to Stoke’s Peter Crouch one more time, a player who he has bought and sold on at profit an incredible 4 times already. It’s also been widely reported this morning that Rangers could be in for former Blackburn favourite Chris Samba. Harry knows what he’s doing when it comes to strengthening his squad and doing it under budget, don’t be surprised if there’s movement in and out of QPR before Thursday night.
David Villa
The Spanish international was one of the hottest striking properties in the world when he swapped Valencia for Barcelona in 2010. But a badly broken leg saw Villa miss 8 months of action and this has curtailed his career at Camp Nou. Now fit again, Villa seems content with a move away from Catalonia in search of regular first team football.
This has apparently alerted Arsenal who at times have been devoid of attacking ideas this season and Manchester City who seek a replacement for the departing Mario Balotelli. At age 31 Villa could still potentially be a big time player in top flight football and allegedly valued at £15million could be one of the steals of the season. It still remains to be seen whether his wage demands would fit in with Arsenals rigid financial structure or whether he would be satisfied with what could be a bit-part role at Man City.
There is sure to be much more written and reported about David Villa before the transfer window slams shut.
A Striker for Spurs
This weekend’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of Leeds United has highlighted how short of numbers Spurs are in attack. Of the two recognised strikers at the club, Emmanuel Adebayor is away at the African Cup of Nations and Jermain Defoe seems to be carrying an injury. Celtic’s Gary Hooper and highly rated Brazilian Leandro Damião have been muted as possible solutions.
Andre Villas-Boas was previously quoted as saying that Spurs wouldn’t play an active part in this transfer window but with Lewis Holtby already signed from Schalke, AVB’s hand may be forced further due to the crisis Spurs face up front.
The Striker Merry-Go-Round
If Spurs are in fact looking to boost their numbers in the striking department they could be well served by looking at the clubs around them. West Bromwich Albion's Peter Odemwingie seems intent of forcing through a move to QPR, who in turn may be willing to let Jamie MacKie move on, possibly to Norwich. Norwich themselves could be ready to part ways with captain Grant Holt if reports are to be believed. Norwich also seem to be involved in the race for the aforementioned Gary Hooper of Celtic.
Swansea City look likely to allow unsettled striker Danny Graham to leave with Sunderland the most likely destination at the present time and Newcastle are still reported to be looking to strengthen their forward line. Meanwhile Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal to West Ham), Demba Ba (Newcastle to Chelsea), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea to Liverpool) and Mario Balotelli (Man City to AC Milan) have already moved. It seems to be a transfer window built for forwards so don’t be surprised to see even more chopping and changing yet.
So, to summarise, there still seems to be a lot to be done before the deadline finally comes. Expect to see plenty of action at QPR, Newcastle, Sunderland, Norwich and perhaps Everton as well. Actually, scrap that, expect there to be deadline day activity everywhere.
Everywhere that is, except Manchester United. Once again Sir Alex Ferguson sits in his office and preparing his team for their upcoming game against Fulham on Saturday, unbothered by the (dare I say it) wheeling and dealing that January seems to bring for everyone else. Sir Alex’s refusal to enter the market in January has been well documented, and with the amount of stress it seems to bring on his counterparts, who could blame him.