Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is "going nowhere" according to his manager Martin Jol.

The 24-year-old has not been a regular this season but has scored five in his last four starts, and reports have linked him with a move when the transfer window opens.

But Jol is determined to keep Defoe at the club as they remain in all the cup competitions and are looking to climb the Premiership table following an indifferent start.

The Dutchman said: "Jermain is going nowhere. I'm not going to sell someone who is playing such a crucial part to our challenge in the Carling Cup, Uefa Cup and Premiership.

"There is always speculation about Jermain. The transfer window will come up again in a month's time and he has already been linked with Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Portsmouth."

Jol has Dimitar Berbatov in fine form at the moment, while Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane was preferred to Defoe for the recent win over Chelsea and matches in Europe.

With the club playing eight games in December, starting with Saturday's clash against rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Jol may need to rotate his strikers, particularly as Mido has a groin injury.

"Jermain is very important to us. There is all this talk about him not playing regularly and yet he has started six of the last nine games," Jol told the London Evening Standard.

"Robbie has only started three games in the Premiership lately but no-one is talking about him wanting to go. Jermain can do nothing about it.

"If he was scoring it would not be an issue, but, as he hasn't got many goals, people are saying he's lacking in confidence because he's not playing. But they are not checking the facts."  PA