Tottenham rule out Raul move
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has ruled out adding former Real Madrid captain Raul to his strikeforce, but admits that he could be interested in a move for Sevilla hitman Luis Fabiano.
Raul marked his last day of a 16-year stay at the Santiago Bernabeu today by claiming that he could now be set for a move to the Barclays Premier League.
The 33-year-old is also considering a move to Schalke but Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs have all been linked with a move for the striker.
Spurs boss Redknapp insists a move for the former Spain striker, who scored 323 goals for Los Blancos, would be beyond Spurs financially, but admits he is interested in signing Fabiano.
Fabiano, who scored three goals for Brazil at the World Cup, could leave Sevilla this summer, with the Spanish club thought to be keen to sell the 29-year-old before his contract runs out next summer.
Redknapp told Sky Sports News: "I like Fabiano. I've got other targets, but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't like him, he's a top player.
"Raul was a great player at Real Madrid, but I wouldn't think he would be a player we would bring to Tottenham. Financially, I don't think it would be possible to do a deal like that."
Any move for Fabiano could depend on whether Redknapp decides to offload Robbie Keane.
Keane slipped down the pecking order at Spurs last season before being offloaded to Celtic for the second half of the campaign.
The Republic of Ireland striker has performed well in pre-season though, finding the net twice in a pre-season tournament in the United States.
Redknapp admits that the 30-year-old's form could lead to him staying at the club, despite stern competition from Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko for a starting place.
"He (Keane) was outstanding in the tournament," said Redknapp.
"He scored some goals and ended up getting player of the tournament, and deservedly so. He's in great form. He's here so there's every chance that he will be in the team. He's a top player."
During the tournament, which saw Spurs beat New York Red Bulls and draw with Sporting Lisbon, Redknapp admitted that he was worried that both Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate would be unavailable for the start of the season.
King, who has a long-standing knee problem, picked up a groin injury during the World Cup while Woodgate is no nearer to returning from the groin injury which ruled him out of the majority of last season.
Redknapp admits that he may have to add another defender to his squad but ruled out a move for Everton's highly-rated centre half Phil Jagielka.
"Jagielka is an outstanding player but we wouldn't be in the market for someone like that," said Redknapp.
"Signing a defender is a possibility. I'm hoping that Ledley might be ok. His knee is swollen at the moment but it might go down.
"We'll have to wait and see what happens. Woody will certainly not be fit. He's not even kicked a ball yet. He's just doing a bit of running at the moment so we'll have to wait and see."
Redknapp, who also denied rumours linking the club with Aston Villa duo Ashley Young and James Milner, admitted that the club are in talks over a loan move for Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.
"I think (Spurs chairman) Daniel (Levy) is talking to them and I think there's a possibility of loaning him.
"We have two outstanding goalkeepers in (Heurelho) Gomes and Carlo Cudicini but I do feel that we need three goalkeepers with the European games coming up as well.
"You could get an injury and end up in trouble so it's something that would interest us."
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