• Premier League

We have to keep Adebayor - Van der Vaart

ESPN staff
April 2, 2012
Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice for Spurs against Swansea © Getty Images
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Rafael van der Vaart has urged Tottenham to sign Emmanuel Adebayor on a permanent basis.

Adebayor, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City, scored twice on Sunday to inspire Tottenham to a battling 3-1 win over Swansea, their first Premier League victory in six attempts.

Adebayor arrived at White Hart Lane with concerns about his temperament and attitude, but he has defied his critics to score 14 goals and give the Londoners a very good chance of qualifying for next year's Champions League.

The striker is reported to earn around £170,000 a week at the Etihad Stadium, a figure way beyond what the maximum earners take home at Tottenham, but Van der Vaart rates his team-mate as one of the best strikers around and wants him to stay.

"He is one of the best, a top striker,'' Van der Vaart said. "He played for Real Madrid, for Arsenal, Manchester City. I was surprised that he came and I hope that he stays.

"He works his socks off, he's unbelievable. He's so positive. We love him here. I played with [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy [at Real Madrid] and he was fantastic and with Ade as well.

"Normally strikers wait for the chance and they score, but he works hard as well and even when he doesn't score, he's still important for the team. He's a big man for us.''

Van der Vaart has been one of the main beneficiaries of Adebayor's arrival. The Dutchman has formed a strong bond with the 6ft 3in striker, who powered home two headers in the final 17 minutes to kill off Sunday's game after Gylfi Sigurdsson had cancelled out Van der Vaart's opener.

Van der Vaart, himself one of the club's top earners, acknowledges Adebayor's wages could quash any hopes of his strike partner staying beyond the end of the season.

"I think the problem is the wages,'' Van der Vaart added. "Yes, I have tried to persuade him to stay. Last season I had a good understanding with Peter Crouch, but with him it's even better. He's tall and strong. He's not selfish and his attitude is one of the best.''

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