Van der Vaart reveals Liverpool snub
New Tottenham recruit Rafael van der Vaart has revealed he chose the North London club over Premier League rivals Liverpool. The 27-year-old Dutch international spoke of his delight at the move, insisting he had a “good feeling” about Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.
Van der Vaart’s admission will come as not only a major blow to Liverpool, but also a sign of the times, as Spurs have perhaps crept ahead of them in terms of attractiveness. The North London outfit has plenty to offer any player, with Champions League football and a competitive salary amongst many attractions. Liverpool, meanwhile, cannot offer Champions League football, and with finances tight at the Anfield club, they are unlikely to compete with Spurs and Manchester City - their two most direct rivals for fourth place - on the financial front.
Van der Vaart’s move to Spurs represents a major coup for Redknapp, who can now call on a centrally attacking midfielder of which it has lacked. Van der Vaart’s vision, passing ability and goalscoring prowess make him almost the complete midfielder, in a similar mould to that of Chelsea star Frank Lampard. Whether he can have the same impact as Lampard remains to be seen, but he is surely a snip at £8 million.
However, his first task will be to usurp first-choice midfield pairing, Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone. Palacios, who hasn’t quite hit the heights many expected since his arrival, is the destructor of the midfield, so it is Huddlestone most at risk of losing his place, despite his impressive form. There is of course room for all three in a midfield, but that would mean sacrificing a striker. But that is the type of conundrum Redknapp will be more than happy to have, as now with Champions League football and another assault on the top four to take on, he needs a large squad that allows him such room to manoeuvre.
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