Soccer:Sergio Aguero has ended speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham after signing a contract extension with Atletico Madrid. Reports last night suggested that Tottenham had lodged a club record €45 million bid for the 22-year-old hitman.
But the Argentina forward agreed a two-and-a-half-year extension to his existing deal earlier this month and formally signed the contract at a presentation in Madrid at midday.
The new deal is thought to reduce the buy-out clause in the player’s contract but Aguero himself insists he will not be leaving the Vicente Calderon.
“I’m staying here because I want to,” Aguero told Atletico’s official website.
Atletico's majority-shareholder Miguel Angel Gil said that offers from Spurs for Aguero and strike-partner Diego Forlan, and one from Chelsea for Aguero had been turned down.
"The club have always treated me well and for this reason I wanted to renew," Aguero added. "I'm settled and happy to continue here, and I hope to stay for many years."
The agreement saw the player's buy-out clause reduced from €60 million to €45 million, which has increased media speculation of a possible exit in the near future.
"The day I want to leave it will be my decision," Aguero added. "If in June we decide, the club and I, that a change is best it will be a decision taken by everyone."
Redknapp, who landed Rafael van der Vaart in an 11th hour bid on the last transfer deadline day, said this morning that he expects to do little if any business before tonight’s 11pm deadline.
Robbie Keane’s departure to West Ham has opened up a place in Redknapp’s 25-man squad, but the former Hammers boss denied knowing anything about a bid for Aguero this morning.
“Sergio Aguero? No. I don’t know anything at all about that one,” Redknapp said. “It would surprise us all if that happened. I don’t think there is anything in that one at all. I don’t think you’ll be seeing a lot of action today. It’ll all be happening elsewhere.”
Spurs have been linked with a host of strikers in Spain over the last 24 hours. Villarreal star Giuseppe Rossi, Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente and Sevilla hitman Alvaro Negredo are all said to be on Redknapp’s radar but he is pessimistic about his club’s chances of signing any of them.
“Rossi is a fantastic player but I wouldn’t have thought so. Negredo is a top player. Llorente? We’d have all of them. They would improve us but I can’t see any of them being here,” Redknapp added. “I should be going home after training today. I don’t intend to be sticking around here until 11 o’clock if nothing’s happening.”
Tottenham are facing a major crisis in defence after Michael Dawson’s red card yesterday meant he will now miss the next three games. Younes Kaboul joined long-term injury absentee Ledley King on the sidelines with a knee problem, with surgery on the injury ruling him out for six weeks.
With fellow centre-half William Gallas struggling with a hip problem, Redknapp admits that he may now have to turn to Jonathan Woodgate, who has been out for over a year with a serious groin problem and was originally supposed to go out on loan to aid his recovery.
“Jonathan Woodgate is going to be pushed into action quicker than expected,” Redknapp added. “We’ll have to see how Jonathan is. Hopefully he has had no reaction from his injury and we hope that he could be available pretty quickly for us now.”
Redknapp continued by insisting that only his fringe players would be allowed to leave today.
“We can’t let anyone else go. We have let a few go out on loan already,” he said. “There isn’t too many that I would let go. Fringe players maybe, but no one from my squad.”
