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HARRY REDKNAPP has included Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson among a number of potential targets for Tottenham this summer.

Redknapp has always been an admirer of the energetic former Manchester United man, who has the ability and temperament to play down the left side or through the middle.

It is as an attacking midfielder that he has scored four goals in his last three outings for Sunderland, which has coincided with Spurs’ renewed interest a player they courted 20 months ago.

With the future of Gareth Bale far from certain at White Hart Lane, Redknapp has to consider a number of candidates to come in should the Welshman leave.

Inter Milan are thought to be readying a £40m close-season offer for Bale and, although Tottenham would prefer to keep him, last month’s hectic transfer window highlighted that every player has his price.

Tottenham’s main summer target is likely to be Blackpool’s Charlie Adam.

Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing and Manchester City’s Adam Johnson could also be in the former Portsmouth boss’ mind, Richardson’s versatility could prove crucial.

SOURCE: Northern Echo

This source may be getting a little ahead of themselves as the last time we checked Gareth Bale was very much committed to the Tottenham cause. However this is an interesting list of candidates to take the Welsh international’s place if indeed a move to Inter Milan does take place.

At first glance of the quartet the player who would most attract Harry Redknapp would surely be England international Adam Johnson. The Manchester City winger has looked effective when selected by Roberto Mancini but the former Middlesbrough man is seemingly far from being a first choice starter at Eastlands, having managing just eight of the club’s 26 Premier League matches.

Tottenham did attempt to nab Charlie Adam last month but it seems likely the Scottish international on his way to Liverpool at the end of the season, also the Blackpool man hardly looks like a replacement for Bale as he is a more centrally positioned midfielder than an out and out wideman.

Stewart Downing was another player supposedly on Redknapp’s January wish-list but it seems highly unlikely Aston Villa would sell one of their most in form players, especially as he only arrived at the club 18 months ago.

A move for Kieran Richardson seems the least likely as such a signing would hardly appease Spurs fans as a replacement for Bale.

Tottenham may also lose fellow left sided player Benoit Assou-Ekotto who is apparently warming to the idea of a Juventus move so there may well be a need for the North London side to invest in a full back rather than an out and out winger.

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Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has said the whole team must shoulder the blame for their surprising 3-0 Premier League defeat at home to Sunderland.

“As a team we didn’t play well,” Cech said. “It was not because individuals were missing and the back four was changed – it was everybody’s mistake.

“We were not compact enough, we were just all over the place and that’s why they had those chances and unfortunately for us they took two of them and the third goal I don’t even count as it’s just one of those things that when everything can go wrong does go wrong.” (Daily Telegraph)

Chelsea could have lost by even more to Sunderland on Sunday. The three goal margin did not flatter the Black Cats.

However, in fairness to Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues team, they were missing some key players.

John Terry and Alex were out, meaning a centre half partnership of Branislav Ivanovic and Paulo Ferreira had to play, while Michael Essien and Frank Lampard were also absent.

A midfield trio of John Obi Mikel, Ramires and Yuri Zhirkov appears neither balanced nor incisive. Not one of those players is a strong tackler, a creative player, or a big goal threat. Each is a jack of all trades, but a master of none – though Ramires deserves more time to settle to prove his worth.

However, Steve Bruce’s game plan worked brilliantly – and he has clearly learned from his similar tactical approach against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Knowing most of Chelsea’s threat comes through Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda on their left hand side, Bruce asked Kieran Richardson to tail Cole throughout the match, while Nedum Onuoha tracked Malouda.

With no Lampard or Essien in midfield, there was far less threat on the right hand side of the Chelsea midfield, and Jose Bosingwa found himself penned back by the high pressing Sunderland forwards.

This meant Chelsea could not build from the back in their usual fashion, and often resorted to a longer ball in panic.

The question is, once Chelsea get their big players back, would Bruce’s tactics be a universal approach to take them on, or will they be safe in the knowledge that their best is the match for anyone?

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp still hopes to sign Bulgaria winger Martin Petrov from Manchester City but has been told he must sell to finance any deal.
Redknapp is also keen on Kieran Richardson but Sunderland want to keep the midfielder. (Daily Mail)

Many people will concentrate on Liverpool’s poor display at White Hart Lane yesterday but really I don’t think that is fair on Harry Redknapp’s men. There is no doubt that the north London club have come on leaps and bounds since the former Pompey man arrived when of course the club were rock bottom with just two points from eight games, something that Harry is clearly fond of repeating. He has brought in some stellar signings but perhaps none more so than the capture of Wilson Palacios who was magnificent both when coming forward but also when putting in the solid tackles that essentially snuffed out Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard out of the game.

Anyway, with regards to the two latest players linked with a move to Tottenham I have to ask, why? I understand that for some time people have believed that the club has problems down the left but Luka Modric has made the position his own. He may not be an out and out winger but he does the job on the left effectively and in many ways its the position that suits him most. Don’t get me wrong I think Martin Petrov still has a few seasons in him but would such a transfer only serve to destabilize the system currently in operation, if its not broken why fix it?

Kieran Richardson is an odd sort of player and one who in many ways flatters to deceive. He was edged out at Old Trafford when Sir Alex simply couldn’t count on the England man to perform week in week out. Then occasionally he has a fantastic game and maybe even scores a 20 yarder but he is way to inconsistent, and again, where would the Sunderland man fit into the first team set-up?

There is a danger that any transfer, bar maybe one more back up defender, would be simply spending money for the sake of it and after the club’s opening day display, is there really any need for Redknapp to get the chequebook out again?

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The Daily Telegraph reports that Newcastle have been unsuccessful in a short-lived pursuit of Kieran Richardson. The former Manchester United midfielder is one of Sunderland’s most valuable assets and, along with Kenwyne Jones, a player that the club are working hard to retain on Wearside. Ricky Sbragia reveals the Magpies were poised to swoop for one of their crown jewels.

Sbragia said “There was a cheeky inquiry but it was never anymore than that.

“To be honest, we’ve had a few cheeky enquiries over the months that never got anywhere near getting off the ground and that was one of them.

“Clubs are entitled to try it on if they want to but I’ve made it clear that I want to keep my very best players at the club.”

I guess this sort of enquiry happens all the time between football clubs, very much a case of ‘if you don’t ask then you won’t get’. It’s clear that Newcastle are trying to bring in talented midfielders in the ilk of Richardson and Johnson before the transfer window closes, or instead rely on the likes of Nicky Butt, Kevin Nolan and Damien Duff to provide the assists and goals that will get them out of trouble.

“Kieran will be out for about three weeks, he’s damaged his hamstring but that’s life and you have to get on with the challenge,” said Black Cats boss Roy Keane.

Along with Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards, manager Roy Keane regards the former Manchester United player as key to Sunderland’s survival hopes. However, it remains to be seen whether Richardson can stay fit for the rest of the season when he returns, potentially saving the day as he did at West Brom three seasons ago.

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