Harry not giving up on Defoe
31 Dec 2008 - 15:54:00
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is refusing to give up hope of luring Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane.
Redknapp took the England international from Spurs to Pompey last January during his spell in the Fratton Park hot-seat.
The veteran manager headed in the opposite direction himself in October and has admitted on numerous occasions that he would be interested in re-signing the striker.
Redknapp has continued to suggest he might struggle to meet Portsmouth's valuation of their seven-goal marksman should they decide to sell.
However, the Spurs chief is refusing to rule himself out of any potential running for the 26-year-old former West Ham United striker.
"If we could agree a fee with Portsmouth, then fine, he is a good player," he said.
"But if Portsmouth do not want to sell him, then that is up to them.
"They haven't got to sell him if they don't want to. If they say, 'no' then that is the end of the story.
Meanwhile, Redknapp has also revealed that he has seen a bid for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy turned down.
"We made an offer and they turned it down," he added. "He belongs to West Ham and if they don't want to sell that is their prerogative.
"We can't force them to sell him but, yes, he is a player I like."