Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp does not want to sell Robbie Keane but has hinted at changes in his forward line if Manchester City are willing to sell Craig Bellamy.

Keane was said to have orchestrated the secret Christmas party in Dublin that angered Redknapp and led to a donation to charity from the players involved — but the Spurs boss did not consider taking the captaincy away from the Republic of Ireland striker.

“Robbie is the captain and that wasn’t going to change,” Redknapp said. “Not a chance, and it never, ever entered my mind, I was never going to change it.”

Keane has a healthy return of eight goals this season but Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch have been Redknapp’s preferred choice in attack as Spurs have bounced back from defeat at Wolves with consecutive Premier League wins.

Celtic have also been linked with a move for the 29-year-old but Redknapp said: “I don’t want to sell Robbie, there’s not too many Robbie Keanes about in the game. He has enthusiasm and knowledge, a lot of things that he brings into the game so he’s certainly not a player we’d want to lose.

“He’s still a big part, very much so. When we brought him here it coincided with a terrific run we had last year. He came and gave the place a real lift, and it’s been the same this year.”

Redknapp is not expecting radical changes at White Hart Lane when the January transfer window opens, although Roman Pavlyuchenko and David Bentley want to leave the club to get regular football.

The Spurs boss is a huge admirer of Bellamy and would be interested if the Wales striker became available in an Eastlands shake-up following the appointment of Roberto Mancini.

“He’s a good player,” Redknapp said. “He belongs to Manchester City, I’m sure they wouldn’t want to sell him. I tried to sign him before he went there.

“It’s like asking me if I’m interested in Wayne Rooney, of course I love Wayne Rooney, but I won’t get him, will I?”