Tottenham Hotspur have come agonisingly close to a major trophy in the last decade or so. This lot would surely have made the difference.
Tottenham Hotspur sure do like a big-money rumour. It’s just a shame they’re a little less successful when it comes to actually convincing their reputable targets to sign on the dotted line.
Thibaut Courtois
Along with David De Gea, feline Belgian shot-stopper Courtois is perhaps Hugo Lloris closest rival for the crown of Premier League best. Though, if Harry Redknapp had been granted his wicked way, the La Liga and Premier League champion would be earning his trade a few miles north.
“We had him for next to nothing when he was 17 and that was another deal that dragged on forever and we didn’t get it over the line,” Redknapp told talkSPORT. “He should have been at Tottenham.”
Phil Jones
Beyond the relentless gurning, Phil Jones is quite a commendable defender. Nonetheless, injuries mean he is still yet to become, ahem, Manchester United’s greatest ever player. Thanks for the added expectation Sir Alex.
Yet, according to ‘who else but Harry’ via ESPN, the versatile defender could today be standing firm alongside his fellow England pals at White Hart Lane.
Walter Samuel
Imagine an Argentine centre-back. Rugged, uncompromising, fiercely competitive. Essentially, Walter Samuel. After establishing himself as one of the world’s top defenders at Roma, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, the Daily Mail claimed in 2012 that he had identified Tottenham as the latest destination on an illustrious CV.
They got Zeki Fryers instead.
Gary Cahill
What could have been, eh Harry? In September 2011, Del Redknapp claimed that a deal was in place for Cahill to move to White Hart Lane from Bolton Wanderers, as reported by The Telegraph, only for the agreement to fall apart at the crucial moment.
Oh well, it’s not like the 52-time England international would go on to lift a Premier League title, an FA Cup, the Europa League and the Champions League trophies just a few miles down the road, right?
Benjamin Mendy
Ben Davies has barely had a sniff of first-team action this season but France international Mendy would surely have given Mauricio Pochettino a full-on selection migraine. According to London Football News, Mendy could have moved from Monaco if Spurs had managed to ship out the Welshman in the summer.
In the end, the left-back did make his mark on Tottenham. Namely by setting up a crucial goal against them as they plummeted out of the Champions League.
Patrick Vieira
“[Vieira] almost came to me at Tottenham from Inter Milan,” Redknapp wrote in his column for the Daily Mail. “I thought it was an incredible decision by him, after he’d been such a hero at Arsenal. He had no fear about what people would think or what reception he would get.”
“In the end, his circumstances changed and he decided to stay in Italy. By the time he did become available — the following January — our needs had changed and Manchester City snapped him up.”
Shame. Tottenham fans would have enjoyed lording that one over their North London neighbours.
Charlie Adam
Perhaps there’s a reason why Adam seems to have such a vendetta against Tottenham. Raking Gareth Bale’s Achilles on frequent occasions certainly riled up the supporters but perhaps the poor man’s Pirlo was merely omitting a subtle cry for help.
After all, according to the Evening Standard, he was within seconds of signing for Spurs in the infamous January 2011 transfer window.
Willian
“That’s the danger of medicals before contracts,” Jose Mourinho in-no-way-gloated after Chelsea had nabbed Willian under Spurs’ nose in 2013, according to The Guardian.
The big money Anzhi winger had all but tied up a move to White Hart Lane before the boys from blue came steaming in at the last minute to raise hell and, in hindsight, complete a very astute deal.
Rivaldo
Fresh from sending England crashing out of the 2002 World Cup, one third of Brazil’s fearsome front line almost came sauntering into White Hart Lane to the amazement of the footballing world.
Available on a free from Barcelona, The Standard reported that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy hopped on the nearest Spain-bound jet to thrash out a deal with one of the most gifted players of his generation.
“We were close to getting him,” then manager Glenn Hoddle would lament.
“There are not many players of that class in the world game so, when the chance of signing was there, we had to move heaven and earth to try and bring him here.
“Milan pushed the boat out to extortionate money to get him and they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
Matt Le Tissier
One of the last remaining ‘one club men’, many would argue that Matt ‘Goal of the Season’ Le Tissier held back his own career by remaining at his boyhood club Southampton for the entirety of his career. However, a lifetime of trophies, the enigmatic maverick would surely retort, is nothing without a lifetime of love. Well, he’d probably say something along those lines.
“I nearly signed for Spurs in 1990 but changed my mind at the last minute,” Le Tissier admitted, as reported by Sky Sports.
“That was the closest I ever came to leaving. It got close, very, very close, to the point where we had agreed on wages.”
Luis Suarez
This wouldn’t be complete without one last word from Mr Redknapp himself. He told talkSPORT that, in 2012, Luis Suarez was the man he had identified to turn Tottenham into Premier League champions. Therefore, you could imagine his disappointment when 33-year-old Louis Saha walked through the door.
Suarez, for what it’s worth, would go on to terrorise Spurs and was agonisingly close to inspiring Liverpool to the Premier League title. Imagine what he could have achieved at Tottenham.
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