Coach not looking to cash in on England striker.
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Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has insisted that he will not be selling striker Jermain Defoe during the January transfer window, Sky Sports reports.
The 31-year-old has started just one Premier League game for the club this season after falling behind summer signing Roberto Soldado in the pecking order and has seen most of his game time restricted to the Europa League.
Defoe is now the club’s all time leading goalscorer in European competition, but has insisted that he wants to play more domestic games with the World Cup approaching in the summer.
However, asked whether he would consider letting Defoe leave anytime soon the manager responded” “No, I don’t think so.
“We are pretty happy with the goals he is producing. He is on nine goals already so it is a great start for him and it doesn’t change our perspective regarding his position in the team.
“I’m not sure about the selection process for [England manager] Roy Hodgson but from what I have seen he has been counting on Jermain in the same way and he has been included in all call-ups since we started playing this season.”
Villas-Boas went on to say that he has been happy with the contribution of both Defoe and Soldado this season, who have found the net 15 times between them over the course of the campaign.
“We’ve been rotating,” Villas-Boas said.
“I’m extremely happy with both, it is just a question of deciding what is better on a specific date and regarding specific strategies.
“Obviously everyone wants to play consecutively and get matches in the Premier League.
“But we have found comfort playing in this system and we have three strikers competing for that position and it hasn’t been easy for any of them.”