Redknapp believes striker has point to prove

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes transfer target Emmanuel Adebayor has a point to prove should he join Spurs this summer.

The Manchester City forward has been linked with a move away from the Etihad stadium for the entire transfer window after falling out of favour with Roberto Mancini.

Reports suggest a deal is close to completion but Redknapp insists that he is unaware as to whether any move will be announced soon, leaving all transfer matters to Daniel Levy.

“The chairman is dealing with that so I haven’t got a clue where it’s at,” he said on Sky Sports.

“Whether it is done, nearly done or not being done, I really don’t know.

He’s a good player, a real talent, there is no doubt about that. If we could get him at it, he could come here and be a big success,” said Redknapp.

“He’s got a big point to prove, really, he’s got to get back to the form he showed at Arsenal.

“He certainly showed it at Real Madrid last year. We couldn’t handle him out in Madrid unfortunately. He’s a real talent.”

The Spurs manager believes the players’ association with Arsenal won’t be a problem for the fans, believing they will be supportive of the 27-year-old.

“It depends how the player does, doesn’t it? William Gallas came here last year and did fantastic for us, so the crowd took to him,” Redknapp explained.

“The Arsenal fans hate Adebayor, so I am sure that will make the Tottenham fans like him.

“If he comes here and gets goals and plays well, they will love him. If he is useless, they will slaughter him.”

Redknapp also stressed that any move for the former Arsenal star will not spell the end of Peter Crouch or Jermain Defoe’s time at White Hart Lane, especially after the club sold Robbie Keane to LA Galaxy last week.

“No. Robbie’s gone, obviously, but at the movement we are OK and I don’t see any movement,” he added.

“I keep seeing about Crouchy but I don’t know where that’s come from. I love Crouchy, there’s nothing there as far as I know.

“Jermain is playing at the moment and looking sharp.”