Ardiles: two signings and Spurs can win the title

OSSIE ARDILES has backed Harry Redknapp’s claim Tottenham could win the Barclays Premier League this season – but only if they sign a top-class playmaker and striker.

Redknapp this week boldly declared Spurs were capable of ending their 50-year wait for the league title, an assertion that raised a few eyebrows.

Despite the 63-year-old masterminding the club’s best-ever Premier League finish of fourth last season, Tottenham were 16 points adrift of champions Chelsea and would face a huge task to close that gap this term.

But Spurs legend Ardiles, who spent a decade as a player at White Hart Lane before returning as manager, insists Redknapp’s claim is more than pie in the sky.

“Realistically, you would say there are only going to be a few clubs that can challenge for the Premier League title,” Ardiles said.

“Spurs can do it. This is what Harry thinks and what everybody connected with the club wants.

“I believe Harry thinks – and I think as well – that we need one or two more top players in crucial, crucial positions. I would say an attacking midfielder and a front player.”

Joe Cole would have filled the former vacancy but he snubbed Spurs for Liverpool, while Redknapp has been linked with a number of strikers this summer, including the likes of Luis Fabiano and Raul.

So far, Spurs’ only summer signing has been Sandro Ranieri, who will officially join them next month.

Ardiles said: “The transfer market in England right now, apart from Manchester City, has been very, very quiet indeed.

“I believe that everything is going to be – as always – very, very close to the deadline.

“At the moment, everybody’s speculating. Even clubs are speculating. They have Plan A, Plan B, and so on.

“And from the players’ point of view, they are doing exactly the same thing. His Plan A will be to go to Club A; the Plan B will be another club, and so on.

“Suddenly, when you come to the deadline, the last week of the deadline, a lot of things happen.”

And although he believes Spurs could be title contenders, Ardiles accepts they have a fight on their hands simply to qualify again for the Champions League.

“It’s a huge task this season with the Premier League and the Champions League,” he said.

“There are a lot of clubs fighting for position. First and foremost, I would say Manchester City and Liverpool.

“But you’re also talking about Everton and so on. So it’s going to be very, very interesting indeed.”