Spurs manager says 'door open' for Beckham short-term move

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp described negotiations for David Beckham's potential loan as "ongoing" despite the club having already announced he would only be training with the side.

Redknapp, speaking after the 3-0 FA Cup third-round victory over Charlton on Sunday, left the door open for the former England captain's short-term move from Los Angeles Galaxy despite suggesting earlier in the day that a problem with insurance would scupper the proposed switch.

"That's what I was led to believe, but apparently that's not the case," Redknapp said, when asked if insuring the midfielder was the problem.

"Hopefully it could still happen. The situation is ongoing but I don't honestly know."

The Beckham deal overshadowed a performance against Charlton where Luka Modric came off the bench at half-time to inspire victory at White Hart Lane in this all-London club clash.

Redknapp said: "I've got to worry about the people that are here, so I was pleased to get through.

"It was good in the second half. Luka came on and he was fantastic."

Spurs were level at the interval against their opponents from League One, English football's third division, with Redknapp opting to bring on the 25-year-old Modric for Wilson Palacios.

"Maybe we were predictable in the first half and you need someone with that something different to unlock the door," said assistant boss Kevin Bond.

"He certainly has that. We just upped the game in the second half and he helped us move the ball quicker and more incisively."

Charlton caretaker boss Keith Peacock agreed Modric had a crucial influence on the outcome and said he sensed the Croatia international would leave his mark on the match.

"As soon as I saw who was coming on the pitch I thought we would have a problem," Peacock explained. "You love watching him on the ball, but not when you are playing against him.

"The little pieces I've seen of him, and what I saw in this game, he is right up there with the best."

After Modric came on, Spurs took the lead through Andros Townsend on his club debut after returning from his loan at Ipswich.

Redknapp added: "Andros has done well. He was out at Ipswich and wasn't getting a game there so we thought he may as well come back here if he's not getting in their team.

"I'm really pleased for him because he is a good lad as well.

"He has a good attitude, works hard and wants to be a player. If there are a few more like him around it would be good."

Jermain Defoe, against the club where he started his career, scored Tottenham's other two goals and Redknapp was pleased by the form of the England forward, who was out for two months earlier in the season after ankle surgery.

"It was good to see Jermain back. Hopefully he can have a good second half of the season.

"If he can go on a run now it could make a big difference if he weighs in with a dozen goals or so."

Source - Yahoo.