Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists being in the UEFA Champions League is not the be all and end all when it comes to signing players.
Manager says players use Champions League football as 'excuse'
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists being in the UEFA Champions League is not the be all and end all when it comes to signing players.
Spurs missed out on qualifying for Europe's top club competition this season despite finishing fourth, with Chelsea's victory in this year's tournament securing them the final place.
But manager Redknapp does not believe that will prevent the club from attracting top talent in the transfer market.
Overrated
"I think it's overrated what people say about Champions League football and whatever," he told
Sky Sports News.
"People would have still gone to Chelsea if they hadn't won the Champions League this year because they know it's a club that's looking to get into the Champions League positions next year.
"They pay fantastic money. If you pay players enough money and you give them good enough contracts and you show that you're ambitious, they'll come to your club.
"Champions League football, because you don't make it one year - it's one year. I think that's an excuse for players who want to leave and get better contracts elsewhere. I don't see that as a real problem.
"I think if the contract's right and they earn enough money, Premier League football is big enough."
Spurs midfielder Steve Pienaar has spent the season on loan at Everton and Redknapp believes the South African will want to stay at Goodison Park.
He added: "Steven Pienaar is a good player. I would think in all honestly he's going to want to stay at Everton. He seems to have produced his best form there. He was unlucky at Tottenham.
"He's a good player, a very very good player. It's just I had Gareth Bale playing on the left-hand side and you can't dislodge Gareth Bale. He's one of the best left-sided players in the world, without a shadow of a doubt.
"If he's going to want to stay at Everton and Everton want him then obviously the deal is going to have to be right for Tottenham, otherwise he comes back to Tottenham."
Mulumbu
Tottenham have been linked with a move for West Brom midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu but Redknapp insists he is not on the club's radar.
"I don't really know where that's come from, to be perfectly honest," he said. "That's certainly not something that I've discussed with the chairman at any time.
"He's a good player, for sure, but he's certainly not a player we've spoken about."
