Redknapp hopeful of landing former Gunner Adebayor on loan

HARRY REDKNAPP is hoping Emmanuel Adebayor will become the latest ex-Arsenal player to move to bitter rivals Tottenham after confirming yesterday that negotiations over a loan move for the striker are under way.

Adebayor fell out with City boss Roberto Mancini last season and the Italian has made it clear the £25 million striker has no future at the club.

Spurs and City have been in negotiations for some time over a deal, with Adebayor’s reported £170,000-a-week wage packet proving to be the only real stumbling block.

Redknapp, who is preparing for tonight’s Europa League clash with Hearts, hopes both clubs can overcome that hurdle as soon as possible, and there is a possibility the 27-year-old, who spent three and a half years at Arsenal, could turn out for Spurs against Manchester United on Monday.

Redknapp said: “The chairman is talking to Man City about the player but where they (the negotiations) are at, I genuinely don’t know. We will wait and see.”

While the former Togo international has been a controversial figure at times during his time in the Premier League, his ability to score goals has never been in doubt.

The striker scored 46 goals in 104 appearances for the Gunners and Redknapp saw how lethal he is last season when he scored twice against Tottenham for Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final at the Bernabeu.

Redknapp saw his side miss out on a Champions League place last year and fears the same may happen this year if new faces are not added due to the big-spending antics of rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

“I want to get back in the Champions League but that’s going to be difficult because three places are already taken probably. I can see a scrap between ourselves, Arsenal and Liverpool. We do need to get one or two in there if we are going to challenge.”

Redknapp again rebuffed talk of Luka Modric, who misses tonight’s game with a groin injury, leaving for Chelsea.

“I don’t know where it’s at and (chairman) Daniel (Levy) has said all along that he is not going to sell Luka so that is probably it as far as I know,” Redknapp added.

“There is no sign of him going.”