King set to stick with Spurs

Tottenham captain Ledley King appears set to stay at White Hart Lane beyond the end of this season.

The 29-year-old centre-back has a deal until next summer. But it has emerged Spurs have an option to extend his current contract by a year, and it is understood he has no desire to play for another team.

King has a chronic knee condition that limits his training and means he cannot play matches in quick succession – but he has managed the injury and played 29 times last season. This season, he has played in six of Spurs’ nine Barclays Premier League matches.

Boss Harry Redknapp said: “I’d love to keep Ledley here, for sure. He’s a big part of this football club – I think he’s a special player and a special guy. He’s come through this football club, and you need to keep players like that at the club.”

King makes a huge difference to Spurs’ performances, according to midfielder Jermaine Jenas.

“I hope he will stay at Spurs for a long time to come,” Jenas told the London Evening Standard.

“When Ledley is fit, he is one of the best defenders in the world. How can you not miss him?

“You see the difference and you feel the difference when he is not playing. That is not just me saying that, because all our centre-halves respect him.

“All our other centre-halves have performed superbly when called on. But taking Ledley out of a side is like taking Cristiano Ronaldo – or any of the best players in the world – out of a team. Any team would miss Ledley.”