Portsmouth manager Harry Rednapp is exuding optimism and delight now that he has managed to sign England international striker Jermaine Defoe from fellow English Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur just hours before the January transfer deadline. Defoe was told by Spurs manager Juande Ramos in December to find another club since he was a surplus to his wants at White Hart Lane but last week, Defoe was expected to sign a new contract with the north London club.
But Portsmouth managed to sign Defoe as the transfer window was shutting down and Sky Sports quotes Redknapp as saying:
He will be a great signing for us. He wants to play and he needs to play. A couple of his mates are here – he’s close to Glen Johnson and David James. I think he needs to play. He is too good a player not to play all the time. I think he’s a fantastic goalscorer, a top, top player. I signed him when he was 15 at West Ham and it will be great to have him here.
Defoe too must be heaving a sigh of relief. After all, it was more or less certain that he wouldn’t have secured too many matches had he remained at Spurs and now that he is with Pompey, he will certain be given a fair share of chances to play regularly.