Redknapp reveals Parker battle

Harry Redknapp has revealed he worked hard to convince the Tottenham board to part with the necessary funds to bring Scott Parker to White Hart Lane.

Spurs were linked with the England international throughout the summer and finally landed the midfielder on the final day of the transfer window for a reported £5.5m.

Redknapp has admitted a lot of people doubted the deal for the 31-year-old because of his age and his personal demands but has thanked Daniel Levy for pushing ahead with the deal.

"The hardest signing for me was Scott Parker," Redknapp told the Daily Telegraph.

"It wasn't a deal that the club were crazy about, and I could see their point of view.

"Scott had a four-year contract at West Ham and he was on big money, by our standards. Tottenham don't pay the wages that Chelsea or Manchester City do, so there would be quite a gap.

"There was a feeling that bringing in Scott, 31 years of age and with no sell-on value, could be a problem. I argued that it was what he could give us this year and next that could make the difference. Daniel [Levy] backed me on that."