Redknapp keen to keep Adebayor
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admitted he would love to sign Emmanuel Adebayor on a permanent basis after the on-loan striker inspired Spurs to a 2-1 win at Wigan.
Adebayor was instrumental in his side’s blistering start to the Barclays Premier League game, setting up Rafael van der Vaart’s third-minute opener before Gareth Bale headed the second after 23 minutes.
Adebayor continued hunting for a goal of his own until the final whistle, despite Mohamed Diame reducing the deficit for Wigan, who had Steve Gohouri sent off.
Redknapp said of the player he borrowed from Manchester City: “If he keeps going like he’s going I’d love to keep him around. He’s been excellent so far. But the wages will be the problem because he’s not cheap.”
Redknapp had expected his side’s stunning start to the game to fade, as recent injuries caught up with a number of players, including the recently returned Van der Vaart and Sandro.
Redknapp added: “It was complete domination in the first half and we could have come in three or four ahead. I said the only way they’d get in the game is if we did something stupid.
“We gave a sloppy goal away trying to play it in the box, got punished and it changed everything. Our ’keeper didn’t have much to do, but it was still too close for comfort in the end.”
Redknapp revealed Jermain Defoe had been ruled out this morning after falling ill at the team hotel, while Benoit Assou-Ekotto was a late selection after recovering from a virus.
Redknapp said: “Jermain was ill overnight so we sent him home. He had a temperature and was really ill. Benoit felt better this morning and he came up today by car to meet us.”
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said “soft goals” had cost his side, but hailed the spirit shown by his side in the second half.
Martinez said: “It doesn’t matter how well Spurs played in the first half, the frustration was that the two goals were soft – but I couldn’t be prouder of the second-half performance with 10 men.
“We looked like a team that could get something out of it and I’m disappointed we didn’t get a result, but it was a fantastic reaction and the players deserve credit.
“It’s important that you regroup and have a real reaction. If you’ve got real character you do that, if not you fold and you concede four or five and allow the opposition to have an easy afternoon.
“I didn’t think that was the case in the second half, we were really bright and stopped Spurs having the momentum.”
