Instead of contemplating how to strengthen in preparation for a second season in the Champions League, Tottenham Hotspur are now steeling themselves for a summer clear-out while at the same time attempting to hang on to their prized asset Gareth Bale.

Following Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City that confirmed fourth place is beyond their reach, senior figures at the club met yesterday to reassess their current squad in the light of their disappointing end to the season.

Chairman Daniel Levy is determined to keep hold of Bale but will not sanction further spending on new recruits until there has been a clear-out of some other established stars to streamline the first-team squad and reduce the wage bill.

Levy wants to sell several high-profile players, including four who are currently out on loan – striker Robbie Keane, who is at West Ham, and midfielders Jamie O’Hara (at Wolverhampton Wanderers), Giovani dos Santos (at Racing Santander) and David Bentley (at Birmingham City).

Defender Jonathan Woodgate and goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini are both out of contract in the summer and are unlikely to be offered new deals.

Tottenham will also listen to offers for the likes of Roman Pavlyuchenko, Niko Kranjcar, Alan Hutton, Vedran Corluka and Wilson Palacios.

SOURCE: Independent

Whilst this does look like one hell of a major cull, things may not be as bad as they seem. It is clear that Harry Redknapp has a massive Tottenham squad and failure to qualify for the Champions League will have a knock on effect on the club’s finances, but it is far more beneficial to remove under performing members of the squad rather than having to listen to offers for the club’s top stars.

The likes of Rafael Van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Sandro have all been strongly linked with interest from Europe’s elite and Redknapp has steadfastly held his ground by stating that none of those players would be sold, so clearly in order to not have to sell any of his important players, he knows he must cut a swathe of players from his squad that do not offer him a great deal.

Of those on this list from the Independent arguably only a handful would be missed. Those out on loan were clearly on the periphery and the likes of Keane and Giovani have stated their desire to move on. Pavlyuchenko is consistently linked with a move away from Tottenham and the Russian may feel that the time is right to leave after failing to convince Redknapp that he should be a first team regular.

Right backs Corluka and Hutton have shared duties this term but Redknapp has been linked with moves to bring in a new player for that position. Palacios looks a shadow of the player he was last term and Kranjcar, though talented, is not better than those ahead of him in the pecking order.

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Vedran Corluka faces punishment from the Football Association following a row with his club supporters on Saturday.

The 25-year-old was receiving criticism from his fans after kicking a stoppage-time free-kick straight out of play in the 3-2 victory over Stoke City.

The Croatia international reportedly had to be restrained by assistant manager Kevin Bond after confronting them at the final whistle.

If the referee includes the incident in his report, Corluka could be facing an FA charge.

But Corluka has played down the row, insisting he was relaxed when he approached the stands.

“I told one supporter he was an idiot,” said Corluka. “He was moaning during the match when he should have been supporting the team.

“I told him to support instead of criticising. But Kevin did not calm me down, I didn’t need calming down.”

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp revealed he will have a talk with Corluka about the confrontation but doesn’t expect any further action to be taken.

“I didn’t see it. I wanted him to stick it into the corner for Gareth Bale but it didn’t work,” Redknapp said. “Players have to be careful in the current climate.”

“I’ll speak to Corluka about it, but I don’t understand why fans want to give one of their own players stick.”

One fan disagreed with the club’s assessment of the incident

“He was like a man possessed,” he told the Daily Star. “I was glad Kevin Bond came over and stopped him. Who knows what he would have done?”

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Harry Redknapp is planning to swing the axe to trim his White Hart Lane squad and help fund new additions this summer. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is willing to help back his White Hart Lane boss but insists that the North London club sheds a decent chunk of it’s extensive squad.

Robbie Keane will be offered to West Ham at the end of the season and the Irish international has already stated his desire to stick with the East London club if they manage to avoid the drop but if the Hammers do get relegated there are sure to be many interested parties with a move back to Wolves also been mooted.

Winger David Bentley has done well out on loan to Birmingham City and they too may look to make the deal a permanent one but Blackburn Rovers are also said to be keen on bringing their former star performer back to Ewood Park. A number of Spanish sides are looking to capture Mexican flair player Giovani, a player who Harry Redknapp appears to see as being something of a luxury he doesn’t feel he needs.

Wolves are apparently willing to meet the £5m asking price for midfielder Jamie O’Hara who has been a big hit at Molineux, helping Mick McCarthy’s side to three wins and a draw in his six starts with the club. Redknapp is known to be an admirer of the youth team graduate but due to the amount of quality players in his position he sees that keeping the player would only hold up the 24 year old’s career progression.

Niko Kranjcar has been targeted by a number of Premier League sides and the Croatian is beginning to run out of patience and may well also be allowed to leave. The 26 year old playmaker has been handed just two Premier League starts and could be offloaded to the likes of Liverpool or Newcastle who are both said to be interested although Redknapp is said to be prefer selling to a foreign club if possible.

Though Roman Pavlyuchenko is the most prolific of Tottenham’s strikers he still appears to not be a first choice starter and the Russian may look to leave the club and his wish will be granted if Harry Redknapp snaps up one of the many targets he appears to be chasing. The 29 year old former Spartak Moscow man has netted 10 goals in 18 starts this term and could be lured back to Russia.

The final piece of the exit jigsaw may will come down to form in the remaining games of this season with the right back berth being battled over by Scottish international Alan Hutton and Croat Vedran Corluka.

Harry Redknapp will consider selling one or the other at the end of this term but appears undecided on the matter. Hutton has predominantly been the first choice but Corluka is seen as more suited to European competition and is also effective at centre back.

Such moves to finance additions will become all the more pertinent if Tottenham fail to secure a Champions League spot.

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The Scotland full-back is rumoured to have clashed with the Tottenham boss in the dressing room immediately after the humiliating 4-0 FA Cup defeat at Fulham last month.

Hutton has not been selected since, although it is thought he was unavailable for some matches because of a groin problem.
It now looks likely the former Rangers man will leave White Hart Lane at the end of the season and, following his impressive form this term, there will be no shortage of clubs interested.
Juventus have been linked with the 26-year-old in recent weeks, while Aston Villa are also believed to be keen.
Media reports have suggested Redknapp will move to sign a new right-back in the summer, with Fenerbahce’s Gokhan Gonul apparently his top target.
However, the Times claimed the veteran boss plans to make Kyle Walker, currently on loan at Villa, his first choice next season and that Croatia international Vedran Corluka will follow Hutton out of White Hart Lane.

SOURCE: Metro

Tottenham appear to have lost patience with Scottish international Alan Hutton who appears to be on his way out at White Hart Lane with many sides interested in signing the 26 year old right back as Harry Redknapp sets his sights on experienced Turkish international Gokhan Gonul.

The 26 year old Fenerbache defender is out of contract at the end of the season and after four years at the Istanbul club the attack minded full back dubbed the “Turkish Cafu” is ready to leave Turkey with both Bayern Munich and Barcelona said to be interested in the talented wide man.

Kyle Walker, currently doing well on loan at Aston Villa and now part of Fabio Capello’s England set-up, is one for the future and Croatian international Vedran Corluka looks likely to be offloaded with the likes of Liverpool said to be interested.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is looking to Redknapp to sell before he spends this summer and there appears to be a fair bit of deadwood that the club could offload with the likes of David Bentley, Jamie O’Hara, Robbie Keane and Giovani all seemingly surplus to requirements.

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Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in making a move for Tottenham pair Vedran Corluka and Niko Kranjcar this summer. The Croatian international duo have been earmarked by Anfield’s Director of Football Damien Comolli who previously held the same position at White Hart Lane and now hopes to secure a deal to bring both to Merseyside.

Playmaker Kranjcar has been strongly linked with a move away from Tottenham and the 26 year old is said to be unhappy about his lack of first team opportunities and is said to be a target of Newcastle United and a number of sides in Serie A.

The adaptable attacking midfielder has been targeted by Comolli in order to boost the club’s creativity as well as his ability to score goals. The former Portsmouth man may add more natural width as he appears to do his best work when in a wide role where he has most recently been effective as a replacement for injured Welshman Gareth Bale.

Vedran Corluka is a player who Liverpool will look to give the defence more strength in depth. The 25 year old can play as a right back as well as at the centre of defence and whilst youngster Martin Kelly has impressed greatly since his arrival on the scene, he is still clearly a very young player who the club will not want to seen burnt out.

Also given that the likes of Jamie Carragher and Sotiris Kyrgiakos are getting on in years, the addition of another central defensive option would be of great use. Corluka has been a consistent performer for the North London side during his two and a half years at the club but has seen his first team starts limited by the return to form of Scottish international Alan Hutton.

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Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of making a move for Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka.

The Croatia international – valued at €15 million by transfermarkt.co.uk – has fallen down the pecking order at White Hart Lane and, according to the Daily Mail, has his sights set on a move during the transfer window.

Liverpool are thought to be tracking the 24-year-old and now – reports tribalfootball – the Anfield club are being ‘encouraged’ to launch a bid for Corluka’s services.

The former Manchester City player is a versatile defender – able to perform equally competently at right-back or centre-back and, with constant injuries to the Liverpool defence, the acquisition of Corluka could prove to be a shrewd one.

Liverpool are thought to be in a strong position to land the Croatian thanks to director of football strategy Damien Comolli, who signed Corluka in 2008 while occupying a similar role with Spurs. (Give Me Football – Official PFA Website)

Vedran Corluka is a quality player who is equally comfortable at full back or in the centre of defence and Harry Redknapp appears to see the Croatian as more of a squad player and not a first team regular which has led to tongues wagging about a potential move away from White Hart Lane and unsurprisingly a number of interested parties appear to be readying a move for the 24 year old.

Damien Comolli obviously has connections with the former Man City and Dynano Zagreb man and he could well be a very useful player to help beef up the Liverpool back line and Kenny Dalglish appears very keen to bring in some new blood this month.

Corluka is a very adept performer, very calm on the ball rarely flustered and has a good touch. He is able to bring others into play and at right back he knows how to balance defence and attack and he could well be a good replacement for the supposedly exit bound Glen Johnson. Youngster Martin Kelly has been impressive though but Vedran’s ability to play at centre back is an extra bonus.

Whilst Tottenham will be loathed to lose Corluka the North London club are also keen on trim costs so that Redknapp can make purchases of his own and to this end he has already loaned out David Bentley and is likely to look to do likewise with Robbie Keane and they would probably accept an offer for the price quoted by the original source and at that price it seems like a pretty good deal for Liverpool if they do indeed make an offer.

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Tottenham Hotspur have left Jonthan Woodgate out of their squad for the first half of the 2010/11 campaign.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp made his selections on Wednesday, following a frantic transfer deadline day for the capital club.

Having seen a late deal for Holland international Rafael Van Der Vaart pushed through, the White Hart Lane outfit now know what they have to work with.

Their new Dutch signing makes the grade, as do fellow summer arrivals William Gallas and Stipe Pletikosa.

The likes of Jamie O’Hara, who was loaned to Portsmouth last season, and Jermaine Jenas,who had been strongly linked with a move to Stoke, are also included.

There is, however, no place for injury-stricken Woodgate, who continues to battle to save his career.

Tottenham squad: Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Sebastian Bassong, David Bentley, Vedran Corluka, Peter Crouch, Carlo Cudicini, Heurelho Gomes, Michael Dawson, Jermain Defoe, William Gallas, Tom Huddlestone, Alan Hutton, Jermaine Jenas, Younes Kaboul, Robbie Keane, Ledley King, Niko Kranjcar, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric, Kyle Naughton, Jamie O’Hara, Wilson Palacios, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Stipe Pletikosa, Rafael Van Der Vaart. (Sky Sports)

It should be noted that as well as this strong group of 25, Harry Redknapp also has the likes of under 21 year old stars Gareth Bale and Giovani dos Santos to call upon. Given that Jonathan Woodgate hasn’t played for the north London side since November 2009 it can’t have been a massive surprise to the former Leeds centre back that he may well miss out.

Rafael Van der Vaart fills the final spot in a well balanced and seemingly top four ready contingent that Harry Redknapp has put together.

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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is “compiling a dossier” on Alan Hutton and is “sending his spies” to keep tabs on the Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland right-back. (Guardian)

Given the fact that Scottish international Alan Hutton has fallen down the pecking order at White Hart Lane it wouldn’t surprise me if Sunderland did indeed come in for the £6m rated full back and I think that should an offer come in then Harry would probably happily take the money.

The 24 year old right back hasn’t overly impressed since his move from Rangers to Tottenham and as with most players brought in before Redknapp’s reign, with some obvious notable exceptions, he could well be deemed surplus to requirements. Hutton’s one Premier League start came in the club’s demolition of Hull City but he seems unlikely to unseat first choice Vedran Corluka and has only been brought on for sub appearances as the club had to cope with the loss of centre backs through injuries and therefore pushed the Croat into the centre of defence accordingly.

A move to the Stadium of Light could well rejuvenate a career that could become stifled in north London as the Redknapp quite rightly sees other players as being far superior to the Glasgow lad.

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The Rumour

Harry Redknapp has been told to clear the dead wood out of Tottenham before he can consider a summer spending spree.

The restrictions placed on manager Redknapp by the club’s board are leading to tension as he looks to recruit about £30million worth of talent to compete for a top six finish next season.

Redknapp fears he could miss out on key targets unless Spurs provide him with funds to compete for players before off-loading some of his players.

Redknapp would consider selling Darren Bent, David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone, Heurelho Gomes, Gareth Bale, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermaine Jenas, Giovani Dos Santos and Vedran Corluka.

The Source: (Daily Mirror)

The Analysis

Harry has a game plan which he feels will give his Spurs side the best chance of reaching the upper echelons of the Premier League and that plan seems to revolve around removing almost everyone from the squad who he hasn’t brought in himself.

Of the nine listed in this piece I think the source has got carried away by adding Vedran Corluka and the vastly improved Gomes I would also add that Jenas and Huddlestone still have futures at White Hart Lane but the others are very much in the shop window as Redknapp looks to re-model the team this summer.

The club will struggle to get anything like the money they spent on the likes of Darren Bent, Roman Pavyluchenko and David Bentley who’s combined cost to the club was a massive £45m! To be fair though the former Charlton man deserves another chance.

The Likelihood

Nine to leave Tottenham: Many will leave as the clear-out continues but not all will be forced out into the cold.

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The Rumour

MARTIN O’NEILL has lined up a £5million raid on Spurs for Scotland international Alan Hutton.

O’Neill is ready to make a cut-price bid for ex-Rangers defender Hutton this summer and bring him to Villa Park.

Hutton was signed for £9m by ill-fated Spurs boss Juande Ramos in January last year – but he will be made available by Harry Redknapp.

The Source: (Daily Star)

The Analysis

This isn’t too much of a surprise. Harry Redknapp seems to have a penchant for collecting full backs at an alarming rate. The Scottish international was impressive at first but has found himself down the pecking order following the return to form of the excellent Vedran Corluka.

Spurs will struggle to get half the original fee laid out for the former Rangers man as Harry looks to remove more of the squad that he was handed down from Juande Ramos.

The Likelihood

Hutton to Aston Villa: Seems fairly likely

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