Harry Redknapp delivers verdict on Tottenham transfer activity, shares what it means for title hopes
By Harry Sykes
Harry Redknapp has claimed that Tottenham will struggled to “scrape into fourth place” in the upcoming Premier League season – but has not put that down to their lack of transfer activity.
The former Spurs manager told the Sun that the club would have been his pick for the title had they been playing at White Hart Lane in 2017-18.
But Redknapp claimed the open spaces of Wembley are a major disadvantage and predicted Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to win the title following their £200million-plus recruitment on new players.
Nevertheless, the Birmingham boss insisted Spurs will be the most exciting team to watch as he hailed duo the prolific partnership of striker Harry Kane and playmaker Dele All.
“Guardiola can look forward to his first title in English football,” Redknapp wrote in his Sun column. “But I believe the most exciting side will not be Manchester City. It will be Tottenham.
“Problem is, they will be playing at Wembley this season and I am convinced that their temporary home will do for them.
“In fact, I worry that the club I enjoyed managing so much for four years might only just scrape into fourth place.
“That is how much of a disadvantage I think they will be under while their new stadium is being completed.”
Redknapp explained that he is a massive fan of the young and vibrant team assembled by Mauricio Pochettino, which has challenged for the title in the last two seasons.
Spurs finished third in 2015-16 and went one better to secure second place in 2016-17 as they amassed their highest points tally since the Premier League began.
“I would have said they would still have come second had Tottenham not been forced to spend the forthcoming campaign at Wembley,” Redknapp added in the Sun.
“They would have been my first pick for sure because in Harry Kane and Dele Alli they have a wonderful pair, they have two great centre-backs and the goalie is top rate.
“They haven’t bought anybody yet because they don’t really have to. But Wembley, I fear, will be a major downer for them.
“It’s a different ball game when the opposition go to White Hart Lane.
“The crowd is on them, the atmosphere hurts them and it lifts the Spurs boys. But Wembley is all about wide open spaces and incredible though Kane and Dele are, being away from the Lane is going to be a big loss for them.”
In other Tottenham news, Spurs are firmly in the driving seat to sign a creative spark for a bargain price and Pochettino wants the deal done.
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