Redknapp cautious on buying despite leeway from club

It was widely thought Spurs needed to sell before they could buy when the window opens tomorrow, but it now appears Levy is ready to bankroll the club¿s push for titles.

Harry Redknapp has revealed that Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, had been urging him to splash the cash in the January transfer window.

It was widely thought Spurs needed to sell before they could buy when the window opens tomorrow, but it now appears Levy is ready to bankroll the club's push for a second consecutive Champions League campaign and even a tilt at the Premier League title.

Redknapp, the manager, is eager to reinforce his squad but is reluctant to make signings just for the sake of it, admitting finding the right players was proving difficult.

"The owner would like me in all honesty to go and spend his money and buy somebody who could make the difference," he said.

"But I don't know where that player is. I know where they are but they're not for sale - we can't go and buy the people that you'd put your life on.

"Anybody whose got anybody who's real top class, they don't want to sell them.

"We're not in the situation where we need to panic buy. Unless it's somebody who's going to make a difference to the team then we really would not bother."

Redknapp's Tottenham are looking for their third win in six days when they host Fulham at White Hart Lane today, and he spoke out yesterday in support of Mark Hughes, his opposite number.

Hughes was booed by Fulham supporters in their 3-1 home defeat to West Ham United last Sunday, and they are in the relegation placings, but Redknapp said he was surprised by the criticism.

"No disrespect, what are Fulham supposed to do?," he said.

"If they finish half way, it's a fantastic achievement, in my opinion.

"He's spent no money, Mark. He's gone in there, worked with what he's had. I don't know what else people can expect. They used to be in the old Fourth Division."

7pm Abu Dhabi Sports 4