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Happy Van der Vaart going nowhere

Rafael van der Vaart is enjoying his time at Tottenham © Getty Images

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• Profile: Rafael van der Vaart

Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has pledged his future to the club and revealed his admiration for manager Harry Redknapp is behind his desire to stay at White Hart Lane.

The 28-year-old former Real Madrid man moved to Spurs for £8 million in the summer of 2010, immediately making an impact with 15 goals in his first season.

Van der Vaart has continued to impress this term, with a goal in the 3-1 victory over QPR last weekend seeing the Dutchman equal a club record shared by Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Keane of scoring in five consecutive league games to highlight his eye-catching form and obvious affection of plying his trade in England's top-flight.

With his football earning rave reviews and his family settled in north London, Van der Vaart says he is content at the club and pinpointed the influence of Redknapp as being key to his happiness.

"Harry has made me feel at home," he told the People. "He loves to win and he always puts a lot of attacking players in the starting XI.

"I've lived in Amsterdam, Hamburg, Madrid and now London during my career - so I've been in the best cities. But London is good and the schools are great for my son Damian...so there is no reason to leave."

Spurs, currently fifth despite having played two fewer games than the teams above them, have burst into life after a stuttering start and Van der Vaart insists the squad is capable of bettering their efforts of 2010, when they qualified for the Champions League by finishing fourth.

He said: "Last season I thought maybe we could achieve more than breaking into the top four - but we played so many games and it was too much for us in the end.

"Now we have a chance to be in the top two or three but I think Manchester City, with the squad they have assembled and with their individual players, are too strong this year. Beyond that, we should have the same ambition as anyone. Of course Man United always have experience and know how to win but, apart from that, why not? We have a good team.

"I really have the feeling we can achieve something at Spurs."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.