Tottenham 1 Villarreal 4: Harry Redknapp hits back at West Ham over Scott Parker bid

Harry Redknapp has hit back at West Ham’s claims that Tottenham had tried to unsettle Scott Parker with a £7million bid this week.

‘What have we done wrong?’ asked the Spurs manager. ‘How is it unsettling? Who made it public that we had made an offer? You can make an offer for a player if you want to. They can ring us up and make an offer for anybody.

‘I’m sure our chairman must have got some encouragement or he wouldn’t have made an offer. Scott Parker is an outstanding player but if West Ham don’t want to sell him that’s up to them.’


Mexican heat: Giovani Dos Santos was back in the goals for Tottenham, scoring a consolation for the hosts

Mexican heat: Giovani Dos Santos was back in the goals for Tottenham, scoring a consolation for the hosts

Redknapp also hinted at double standards from his old club West Ham, claiming they had been in contact with Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, a long-time transfer target of Hammers manager Avram Grant, who worked with him at Portsmouth last season.

‘I think they have been talking to O’Hara,’ said Redknapp. ‘So I hear, so his agent said.’

Asked whether they had permission for talks, he added ‘I don’t know. It happens.’

West Ham issued a statement on Wednesday explaining how they had rejected Tottenham’s bid for former Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder Parker.

Up and away: Returning England striker Peter Crouch failed to trouble Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez

Up and away: Returning England striker Peter Crouch failed to trouble Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez

Chairman David Sullivan insisted the player was not for sale at any price but Parker is understood to be interested in talking over a possible move to Spurs because of the chance to play in the Champions League.

Redknapp said: ‘We need a couple of experienced players at the club. We did fantastic last season but we have a lot of players and some need to go out on loan. We need a few men in the team and not lads who are learning. Two or three would make a
massive difference to us. Inter Milan won the Champions League with men, they weren’t kids. They knew how to win games and I think it’s going to be important.’

Tottenham’s pursuit of Parker acquired a new urgency on Thursday night as Jermaine Jenas limped off with a groin injury during the first half of a heavy defeat by Spanish club Villarreal at White Hart Lane.

No entry: Spurs youngster Danny Rose struggles to get round Gonzalo Castellani

No entry: Spurs youngster Danny Rose struggles to get round Gonzalo Castellani

Redknapp blames the injury on his club’s crowded pre-season schedule, including a tour to the United States, and fears Jenas could be out for ‘a few weeks’.

Wilson Palacios missed the friendly with a groin problem and O’Hara is out with a bad back. New signing Sandro, from Internacional, is not expected to arrive until September.

Others nursing knocks were Luka Modric and Roman Pavlyuchenko, all of which limits the manager’s options with a Champions League play-off looming next month.

Tottenham went behind through two first-half goals from former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi, who completed his hat trick after the break with the help of a deflection. Marco Ruben scored the fourth for Villarreal. Giovani dos Santos scored for Spurs.

England internationals Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon, Michael Dawson and Peter Crouch played for the first time since returning from the World Cup in South Africa.