Source: Team_Talk
Van der Vaart deal delay probed
Tottenham are hopeful of being given the all clear over the signing of Rafael van der Vaart after suffering technical problems on Tuesday. The Premier League are understood to be investigating what Spurs claim were difficulties involving computer servers used in the £8million transaction between themselves and Real, which hindered their attempts to submit the relevant paperwork on time.It is not the first time the Premier League have assessed whether a transfer has been completed before the deadline.In February 2009, they took a day to sanction Andrei Arshavin's move to Arsenal.A year earlier, Manchester City were unable to formally announce the signing of Benjani Mwaruwari's from Portsmouth for almost a week due to a wrangle over whether the paperwork had been submitted before the deadline.On Tuesday night, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp revealed he was alerted to the availability of Holland star Van de Vaart just two hours before the window closed at 6pm.Redknapp claimed the 27-year-old had been set to join Bayern Munich for £18million on Monday but the move broke down.He said on Sky Sports News on Tuesday: "We are waiting to see if it has all gone through and we are hoping it has."It's something to do with clearance."I think he was going to Bayern Munich yesterday for £18million and suddenly he became much cheaper."They let me know around 4pm that he was available for £8million and, for that money, he is a top player who will definitely improve us."The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close."He's a great passer of the ball, he's a top footballer, he will join in here and be a big plus for us."Van der Vaart helped Holland reach this summer's World Cup final but has struggled to establish himself at Real since signing from Hamburg two years ago.Redknapp also revealed he had made an approach for Liverpool winger Ryan Babel, saying: "He was a player we made an enquiry about but it never came close."Should the Van der Vaart move gain Premier League approval, the midfielder would become Redknapp's second deadline-day signing.Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa finally completed his season-long loan move Spartak Moscow on Tuesday afternoon, with the north Londoners thought to have an option to make the deal permanent.