Redknapp confirms record bid

01 February 2011 23:30
Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Tottenham made a club-record bid for Giuseppe Rossi on Monday - and fully expects the club to be in the market for a marquee signing again this summer. Redknapp spent most of Monday at the club's training ground hoping to land a big name to add to a strikeforce that has struggled in front of goal in the Barclays Premier League this term. Rossi, Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente and Atletico Madrid duo Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero were all targeted but none signed for the club in what otherwise turned out to be an uncharacteristically quiet deadline day for the Spurs boss. In a move contrary to Tottenham's prudent past, club chairman Daniel Levy made a £38.5million bid for Argentina forward Aguero and a £35million offer for Villarreal striker Rossi. Had either bid been successful, Tottenham's transfer record of £16.5million for Luka Modric, would have been smashed. Redknapp insists Tottenham were serious about paying such high fees and expects Levy and owner Joe Lewis to fund a similar purchase if he deems it necessary when the transfer window reopens. Redknapp said: "Daniel always said that if we found the right player then we would have gone for him but it was difficult. He tried something with Rossi. I think he offered £35million in the end. It's hard to get top players unless you pay top money. "You couldn't get Rossi because Villarreal don't want to sell you him. The chairman would have bought someone for £30million though, for sure. He wanted to bring someone in. There was no doubt that he wanted to do it. He wanted to get somebody in and if Daniel and Joe Lewis can find the right people they will have a go again."

Source: PA