Harry Redknapp pleads poverty, but targets a top-six finish

Defensive option: Tom Huddlestone can play at the back
Ian Winrow11 April 2012

Harry Redknapp insists Tottenham will challenge for a top-six finish next season even if he fails to land his top transfer targets.

The Spurs manager has so far struggled to strengthen his squad in the summer and fears being priced out of moves for a number of big-name players including Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Portsmouth's Peter Crouch.

The loss of his three main centre-backs - Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson - for the start of the new campaign is a further blow and has left the club looking for defensive reinforcement in addition to a new striker.

Redknapp will be forced to line up with an experimental central defensive pairing of midfielder Tom Huddlestone and untried French youngster Dorian Dervitte in tonight's Wembley Cup clash with Barcelona.

But despite the setbacks, Redknapp remains confident, saying: "I think we have got a big chance of certainly being a top-six team this year. There is no reason why not. We have got some real quality players here. People like Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon, Wilson Palacios, Jermaine Jenas and Huddlestone.

"Jermain Defoe has looked absolutely fantastic in pre-season. And Benoit Assou-Ekotto is looking a great left-back. So we look in good shape."

Redknapp has seen Manchester City beat him in the race to sign Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz and warned that Spurs will not be able to persuade star players to quit Europe's biggest clubs unless the selling club are willing to help bridge the massive salary gap.

He added: "We pay good money but we don't pay crazy money. So it's hard. I was interested in Gareth Barry, and in Santa Cruz, but we couldn't get anywhere near them.

"If Inter Milan or Real Madrid want to sell one of their big hitters on big wages, they've got to help with the wages otherwise it's impossible to do a deal."

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