Transfer News: Tottenham Monitoring Giuseppe Rossi

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that Spurs are interested in signing Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi and were very close to procuring his services last season. Rossi was also linked with a move to European champions Barcelona but a transfer has so far failed to materialise.

Rossi on Spurs radar

Redknapp has been brainstorming with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and has identified his targets for the summer transfer window, with Rossi being among them. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Redknapp gave Rossi a glowing stamp of approval and praised his exploits to no end. He said-

“Rossi’s top drawer, he’s a clever player.”

“He gets it into feet, he holds the ball up, he scores goals, and he’s the Italy centre-forward now.”

He also revealed that Spurs were close to signing Rossi last season for a fee of around 18 million pounds, but chose not to.

“We tried to get him last year and I think the fee was £18 million. That looks cheap now but he was a player we nearly had last year.”

Rossi has been one of the most sought after players in the market this time. He scored 32 goals in all competitions last year, in what was his breakthrough year since arriving in 2007. The former Manchester United player was sent on loan to Newcastle United as well, where he failed to impress and the Red Devils eventually sold him off to Villarreal.

He has moved from strength to strength in Spain however, showing an unerring ability to find the back of the net both domestically and in Europe. Barcelona were reportedly interested in him but their interest has fizzled out since then.

And Redknapp is under no illusions as to the price a player like Rossi will command. He left the monetary side of things to Daniel Levy and the Board however, saying-

“That’s up to the club and Daniel [Levy] and everybody,”

“But if you’re going to buy top players they cost top money – they’re not going to be cheap.

“They cost top wages, they cost big transfer fees – you need miracles if [you're planning on] picking up people for bargains and they become worth mega money.

“It’s difficult to do that because everybody’s looking for top strikers. They are at a premium, they’re difficult to find.”

Tottenham have done more holding on than spending until now, but it seems like the floodgates are about to open for Redknapp and co, if the correct targets are identified. Stay tuned to find out if Rossi will stay at El Madrigal next season or move to pastures new.