Defoe is going nowhere, insists defiant Tottenham boss Jol

TOTTENHAM striker Jermain Defoe “is going nowhere” according to his manager, Martin Jol.

Defoe, aged 24, has not been a regular this season but has scored five in his last four starts, and reports have linked him with a move when the transfer window opens.

However, Jol is determined to keep Defoe at the club as they remain inall the cup competitions and arelooking to climb the BarclaysPremiership following an indifferent start.

The Dutchman said: “Jermain isgoing nowhere. I’m not going tosell someone who is playing sucha crucial part to our challenge inthe Carling Cup, UEFA Cup andPremiership.

“There is always speculation about Jermain. The transfer window will come up again in a month’s time and he has already been linked with Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Portsmouth.”

Jol has Dimitar Berbatov in fine form at the moment, while Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keanewas preferred to Defoe for the recent win over Chelsea and matches inEurope.

With the club playing eight games in December, starting with Saturday’s clash against rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Jol may need to rotate his strikers, particularly as Mido has a groin injury.

“Jermain is very important to us. There is all this talk about him not playing regularly and yet he has started six of the last nine games,” Jol said. “Robbie has only started three games in the Premiership lately but no-one is talking about him wanting to go.

“Jermain can do nothing about it.

“If he was scoring it would not be an issue, but, as he hasn’t got many goals, people are saying he’s lacking in confidence because he’s not playing.

“But they are not checking the facts.”

Meanwhile, Spurs officials believe the congested fixture schedule is a benefit to the club as well as pleasing for the fans.

“It benefits attracting players to the club and keeping players at the club,” said executive director Paul Barber.

“The fans want to see the club being as successful as possible, playing in as many competitions as possible, and this season they are getting it.

“We’ve got four games in 15 days in December, that’s the kind of pressure the fans want and we’re all enjoying it.

“It’s impossible to put pressure on Martin, every professional sports team is competing to win and we’re no different.”