ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:ACCLAIMED AS a style icon as much as a midfielder, David Beckham has been so impressed by the swagger Harry Redknapp has given Tottenham Hotspur that, according to Redknapp, the player initiated the proposed loan move that Spurs are now trying to agree with Los Angeles Galaxy.
“He spoke to my son Jamie about it and that’s how it all came about,” said Redknapp senior. “Jamie rang me and said would we be interested because he’d love to come and play at Tottenham.
“He (Beckham) just said, ‘I’d like to come back on loan and I’d fancy playing for Tottenham because I like the way they play’. I said yeah, I would be interested. I don’t know if it’ll happen but David’s dead keen.”
That conversation is why Redknapp is convinced that, if Galaxy were to let Beckham go on loan, the player would join Tottenham rather than any of the other Premier League, Italian and Spanish teams who are eager to lure him.
However, Redknapp said the prospects of any deal being done are only “50-50” as Galaxy are believed to be reluctant to release the former England captain after he suffered an injury during a loan spell at Milan last year.
Tottenham are talking with Galaxy, and if the latter do sanction a move it is likely to be completed over the coming days, with Redknapp hinting Beckham could be available to play in the FA Cup tie against Charlton next weekend.
Symmetry admirers, however, would presumably prefer Beckham to make his debut the following weekend – when Manchester United visit White Hart Lane. Beckham would also be entitled to play in the Champions League – where Spurs’ opponents in the first knockout round are another of his old clubs, Milan.
Tottenham were uncharacteristically drab against Fulham on Saturday. They eventually won thanks to an opportunistic header by Gareth Bale and, most of all, defiant defending by their centre-backs, notably William Gallas.
He has excelled since joining on a free from Arsenal and Redknapp says that precedent should encourage Spurs fans who are doubtful about the sense of recruiting a 35-year-old loanee from the US.
“I just get feelings for people,” said Redknapp. “I brought William Gallas here and everybody said you’re mad – but how good has he been? What a player!”
Redknapp won’t rule out a permanent move for Beckham.
“It depends how he goes,” said the Spurs manager. “But for three months it’s a no-brainer.”
Tottenham are likely to be active in the January transfer window even if Beckham does not join.
David Bentley and Republic of Ireland international Robbie Keane are seeking a move and would be replaced.
Guardian Service
