Redknapp reveals failed Barry bid

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has revealed he tried to sign Gareth Barry but was 'blown out of the water by Manchester City'.

England international Barry parted company with Aston Villa on Tuesday after the Midlands club accepted a £12million bid from affluent City.

Spurs, though, were also keen on the midfielder while Redknapp has also claimed Liverpool, who tracked Barry last summer, were interested in a renewed bid.

But the duo struggled to compete with City's financial muscle and Redknapp has admitted his frustration at losing out to Tottenham's Premier League counterparts.

He told The Sun: "This week, I tried to sign Gareth Barry. I felt he would be a good addition for Spurs and I knew we had to make a decent offer for a top England player.
Liverpool

"Liverpool were also prepared to make a big offer. But we have both been blown out of the water by Manchester City.

"They offered a far bigger transfer fee and are giving the lad much bigger wages. We could not get near.

"It's certainly not Gareth's fault that he is being given such a massive contract.

"But I believe the game could do one thing. I don't see wages or transfer fees going down but English football could start putting something back into the community.

"I'd like to see every manager and every player in the Premier League make a donation to charity from their monthly pay packets."

Embarrassed

Redknapp went on to criticise the increasing wages in the Premier League, questioning the morality of such figures in the current climate.

He said: "While I benefit from a good wage, I'm embarrassed about it, to be honest. A lot of people in football are embarrassed.

"I never thought it would get this out of hand. The sums we are now talking to get good players are really, really crazy.

"To hear that Chelsea and Real Madrid are prepared to pay £50million, £60m or even £70m for Kaka is just mental.

"Kaka is a fantastic player and I would obviously love him in my team at White Hart Lane. The fact a pro footballer could be earning £200,000 a week is plain ridiculous."

First off he's a tosser for talking to The Sun. Second off he's an overrated sh*t manager. Third off I really dislike him.

I don't know whether I'm on my own with those feelings though.

Did well to keep that one quiet until now though...

No your not, he's a pr**k. The press love him because he is an English manager who has been around for a while (and only got he FA cup to show)

The bit under 'Embarrased' is ridiculous.

Just look at how much money Spurs spent last year.

"I never thought it would get this out of hand. The sums we are now talking to get good players are really, really crazy". Really Redknapp? You must be the only person on the planet then that is oblivious to what is going on around you.

i agree redknapp has been in the game a long time and done very little one major honor not good enough and the amount of times he has changed job to manage a rival team shows no respect or loyalty F***ing no respect if that was a player hed get dogs abuse and rightly so

So, Redknapp will be giving his wages to charity from now on then?

Carlton Palmer

Harry rues City's double swoop

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has admitted Manchester City beat him to Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz.

Redknapp was keen to sign Santa Cruz and Barry, but was blown out of the water by City's financial muscle.

The Spurs chief was disappointed to lose out on the duo and he concedes Spurs cannot compete with City in the transfer market.

Another level

"I'm looking to strengthen the squad and we've made inquiries for some good players," Redknapp told the Mail on Sunday "But it's very difficult. City have blown us out of the water.

"Regarding two of the players we were strong on, in the end we could not compete with Manchester City. They are working on another level with the wages they can offer.

"We liked Barry and Santa Cruz but when it came to it we just weren't at the races. The wages they offer have gone sky high. Glen Johnson has gone to Liverpool and is picking up two-and-a-half times the wages he was getting at Portsmouth.

"There is no doubt City are making it very difficult for the rest. Barry only had a year left on his contract and would have been a terrific signing for us, but they are probably paying him double what we would have given him, so we had no chance."

Despite missing out on two of his top targets, Redknapp insists he will not rushed into buying any new players this summer.

"We're not going to rush in," added Redknapp. "I have spoken to the chairman Daniel Levy and we've decided if we can't get players who will improve the team we're not going to bother.

"We've already got a decent squad, many of whom are going to get better. But we recognise we have to improve.

"If Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate stay injury-free we'll be strong at centre-half and the goalkeeping situation is much better. After early problems with Heurelho Gomes, he looked a different proposition to the one he was when I took over. We ended the season with two excellent keepers in him and Carlo Cudicini."

Target

Redknapp was happy with the job he did at White Hart Lane last season and has targeted a top six finish this term.

"I think the fans were genuinely happy with what happened after I came," noted Redknapp. "When you've only got two points from eight games, you're in trouble, aren't you?

"Confidence was low but by the end of the season we had a great home record. We've got to improve the away results next season. If we can do that we can push to finish in the top six. That has to be our aim and I believe we can achieve it."

No one cares Harry.

Harry rues City's double swoop

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has admitted Manchester City beat him to Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz.

Redknapp was keen to sign Santa Cruz and Barry, but was blown out of the water by City's financial muscle.

The Spurs chief was disappointed to lose out on the duo and he concedes Spurs cannot compete with City in the transfer market.

Another level

"I'm looking to strengthen the squad and we've made inquiries for some good players," Redknapp told the Mail on Sunday "But it's very difficult. City have blown us out of the water.

"Regarding two of the players we were strong on, in the end we could not compete with Manchester City. They are working on another level with the wages they can offer.

"We liked Barry and Santa Cruz but when it came to it we just weren't at the races. The wages they offer have gone sky high. Glen Johnson has gone to Liverpool and is picking up two-and-a-half times the wages he was getting at Portsmouth.

"There is no doubt City are making it very difficult for the rest. Barry only had a year left on his contract and would have been a terrific signing for us, but they are probably paying him double what we would have given him, so we had no chance."

Despite missing out on two of his top targets, Redknapp insists he will not rushed into buying any new players this summer.

"We're not going to rush in," added Redknapp. "I have spoken to the chairman Daniel Levy and we've decided if we can't get players who will improve the team we're not going to bother.

"We've already got a decent squad, many of whom are going to get better. But we recognise we have to improve.

"If Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate stay injury-free we'll be strong at centre-half and the goalkeeping situation is much better. After early problems with Heurelho Gomes, he looked a different proposition to the one he was when I took over. We ended the season with two excellent keepers in him and Carlo Cudicini."

Target

Redknapp was happy with the job he did at White Hart Lane last season and has targeted a top six finish this term.

"I think the fans were genuinely happy with what happened after I came," noted Redknapp. "When you've only got two points from eight games, you're in trouble, aren't you?

"Confidence was low but by the end of the season we had a great home record. We've got to improve the away results next season. If we can do that we can push to finish in the top six. That has to be our aim and I believe we can achieve it."

No one cares Harry.

Real truth being that he couldn't make any money on the deal. Wink Wink!