Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs 2 Birmingham 1: Harry eyes Pompey pair as Luka set for lay-off
Tottenham reacted to the loss of Luka Modric by launching a joint £8million bid for Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar and goalkeeper David James on Sunday night.
Harry Redknapp is desperate not to lose momentum after a sparkling start of four Barclays Premier League wins. But Modric faces at least six weeks out with a fractured fibula in his right leg following a tackle by Birmingham's Lee Bowyer.
Spurs will have their usual hectic run-down to the closing of the transfer window on Tuesday at 5pm.
LUKA MODRIC
Down and out: Spurs are looking for a temporary replacement for Luka Modric after the Croatian broke his fibula in Saturday's match
They also revived their interest in Manchester City winger Martin Petrov and Rafael van der Vaart of Real Madrid. Redknapp still hopes to sign Honduras centre back Osman Chavez, who has been on trial, on loan from Platense.
Croatia playmaker Modric limped off just after half-time on Saturday. He misses Croatia's World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley on Wednesday week and will be a huge loss to Tottenham's bid to crack the so-called 'Big Four'.
He said: 'It's like my whole world has crumbled. I am terribly sad. It wasn't a ferocious tackle but it hurt awfully and I knew something was wrong the moment it happened.
Niko Kranjcar
On his way? Spurs have their sights set on Pompey midfielder Niko Kranjcar as possible cover for Modric
The worst feeling is knowing that I will be watching both my club and country from the sidelines.'
Spurs says Modric will not need surgery and the injury can be repaired with an Aircast boot, a pneumatic walking brace, but his absence will still be a major blow. He has been Tottenham's outstanding performer this season and, only last week, boss Redknapp urged chairman Daniel Levy to tie the 23-year-old to a long-term deal.
Redknapp said: 'Luka doesn't come off easily - he's a tough little player, a fantastic player. For him to come off, you know he's in a lot of pain. To hear it's a broken leg is a massive disappointment because he's been in terrific form for us.'
They'll miss him
Centre half Ledley King, whose chronic knee problems mean he barely trains, was also substituted with a groin strain and Redknapp admitted King's lack of preparation may finally have caught up with him. It quelled any possibility of King being called up by England, but it will be a nervous two weeks for Redknapp as he waits to see if the defender will be fit to face Manchester United on September 12.
Jermaine Jenas, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Dawson, Gareth Bale and Heurelho Gomes are still sidelined and Tottenham's squad suddenly looks thin on the ground. 'I think we can give anybody a game but you need your best players,' said Redknapp. 'I need Ledley, I need Luka.'
Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish highlighted Redknapp's problem, saying: 'I think they're contenders. They're an exciting team and they have world-class players - and plenty of them - but I suppose it depends on resources and how well the squad can cope.'
Peter Crouch's second-half introduction gave them a completely different aerial option. The striker was denied by goalkeeper Joe Hart, the post and goal-line clearances from Roger Johnson and Lee Carsley before putting Tottenham ahead with a far-post header from a Tom Huddlestone free-kick.
Portsmouths' David James
England experience: Pompey keeper David James could also be Spurs bound as the south coast club look to save on their wage bill
A defensive error from substitute Alan Hutton allowed Bowyer to sneak an equaliser from close range, but Aaron Lennon grabbed the winner in the fifth minute of added time, cutting in from the left and rifling a right-footed shot past Hart.
TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Cudicini 6; Corluka 6, King 6 (Hutton 46min, 5), Bassong 6, Assou-Ekotto 6, Lennon 7, Huddlestone 6, Palacios 7, Modric 7 (Crouch 49, 8), Defoe 6 (Pavlyuchenko 80), Keane 6. Booked: Hutton, Huddlestone.
BIRMINGHAM (4-5-1): Hart 7, Parnaby 6, Johnson 7, Queudrue 7, Carr 6, Larsson 6 (McSheffrey 90), Bowyer 6, Carsley 6 (Benitez 73, 6), Ferguson 6, McFadden 6, O'Connor 5. Booked: Carr, O'Connor.
Man of the match: Peter Crouch.
Referee: Peter Walton.
