• Premier League

Van der Vaart not looking for Spurs move

ESPN staff
June 5, 2012

Rafael van der Vaart has played down suggestions he could leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

Schalke have been linked with a move for Van der Vaart following Spurs' failure to qualify for the Champions League. Van der Vaart, 29, had enjoyed a three-year spell in the Bundesliga with Hamburg before signing for Real Madrid in 2008, but it appears he is not looking to leave White Hart Lane.

Asked if there was any prospect he could leave the club, he said: "No, I don't think so. There's always interest, but I'm happy in England and I want to stay. In football, you never know, and that's what I wanted to say and nothing more."

Manager Harry Redknapp said of the Dutchman's situation: "He's certainly not a player we would want to lose. We were strong with Luka Modric last year, and we'll do the same this year. We want to keep our best players."

Despite finishing in the top four, Spurs will have to settle for Europa League football next season as a result of Chelsea's Champions League triumph. Van der Vaart believes his colleagues got what they deserved for an end-of-season slump.

"I think we have the squad to be in the top three but, this season, I think we had a run of ten games without winning," Van der Vaart said. "At the end of the day, we don't deserve to be in the Champions League. It's a pity for us but that's life."

Van der Vaart is hopeful that manager Redknapp, whose contract is due to expire next year, will remain at the club.

Asked whether it is crucial he remains in the job, Van der Vaart said: "Yeah, I think so. He is doing a fantastic job, so I don't see any problems. I think he's going to sign a new contract - I hope so - and I think it's also good for every team when they have a manager who's there for many years."

The Netherlands star is keen for Spurs to reach an agreement to sign Emmanuel Adebayor, who spent the season on loan at the club from Manchester City.

"I hope he stays," Van der Vaart said. "He's really important - not because of his goals, but also his personality's great. It's going to be difficult to keep him but I hope we will."

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