Hoddle to wheel and deal in search for new blood

GLENN HODDLE is predicting a frustrating time for managers when the transfer window opens on January 1 but admits he could offload one or more of his players in order to bring some new blood into White Hart Lane.

The Tottenham manager has refused to comment on speculation linking Welsh striker Simon Davies with a £9m move to Manchester United.

But he believes the lack of funds in football at the moment will limit transfer activity to loan and swap deals, rather than clubs splashing out big money on new signings.

“I don't think there will be much activity, and not much money spent,” he said.

“It will be a few loan deals and swaps which can be a bit messy. There might be a few frustrated managers out there.

“People thought there would be a lot of activity during the two windows, in the summer and in January, but the state of finances in football has meant less money being spent.

“This first year is a testing ground for managers and we need a couple of seasons before we can judge if it is a good or bad thing.

“Having a window means it is difficult when you find yourself down the bottom and if you have a bout of injuries. If you don’t have the ability at key times of the season to boost your squad it can be a problem.

“We are okay at Spurs at the moment, although I wouldn’t have liked to have had the window in operation last season with the injuries we had.

“Hopefully we can get someone in next month, but it might be that we have to get someone out first, and it is not going to be an easy way of working.

“There are more parts of the jigsaw to be brought in and whether this window is the time remains to be seen.”

Hoddle takes his team to Manchester City on Monday hoping they will pick up where they left off with the performance they gave in the draw against Arsenal last Sunday.

But he is well aware it will be a completely different set of circumstances at Maine Road. “The motivation and energy was very high on Sunday because it was a London derby, and our supporters were as loud as I’ve heard them for many a year,” said Hoddle.

“It will be a different type of game completely at Maine Road with a crowd that gets right behind them.

“They’ve been through thick and thin through the years but now they’re in the Premiership I’m sure it will be a vibrant atmosphere up there.