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Redknapp dismisses Pienaar link

Harry Redknapp has a lot of time for Steven Pienaar but insists he won't be making a move to bring the player to White Hart Lane © Getty Images

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he admires Everton's Steven Pienaar, but says there is no truth in reports the 28-year-old will be at White Hart Lane next season.

Redknapp also reiterated his desire to sign Joe Cole, saying he would "love" to have the England midfielder at Tottenham next season.

"I like Pienaar, don't get me wrong. But there is nothing there," Redknapp told Talksport "I wouldn't see that as being a real goer."

Switching his attention to Cole, he said club chairman Daniel Levy has been in negotiations with the 28-year-old's representatives.

"We're interested in Joe," he said. "I know Daniel was talking to his people and we're interested. If the chairman can pull a deal off I'd love to have him at Tottenham. But it all comes down to if we can do a deal.

"I don't get involved in the financial side; the chairman can do that with Joe's people. Hopefully there is a deal that can be done because we would love him at White Hart Lane.''

The 63-year-old guided Tottenham to a top-four finish last season, meaning the club will compete in the Champions League for the first time.

Redknapp believes it will be even harder to achieve the same feat in the coming season, citing Manchester City's financial power as the main reason why.

"It's going to be even harder to make the top four, that's for definite," he said. "Manchester City could quite easily win the Premier League. If they get the players in now, they've already got the nucleus of a good team.

"They're in for [Liverpool striker, Fernando] Torres, if they end up getting him and one or two others then they can do anything. It's going to make it more difficult."

Meanwhile, Redknapp has ruled out the prospect of Robbie Keane making a loan return to Celtic. During his spell at Celtic Park last season, Keane scored 16 goals in 19 games to earn instant hero status.

And new assistant boss Johan Mjallby confessed earlier this week that the Old Firm giants were interested in recapturing the services of the 30-year-old - something which Redknapp is not keen on facilitating.

"I wouldn't think that's a possibility because we paid good money for him and to loan him out again, it wouldn't be a goer," he said.

"If Robbie's not happy when the season starts and he's not playing then we'll sit down and discuss it. If he wants to move, someone will have to buy him, but I'm hoping he comes back into the team and makes a real impact."

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