Redknapp unsure about England job

Soccer: Harry Redknapp says he is "not sure" whether he wants to take the England job and admits it would be "difficult" to …

Soccer:Harry Redknapp says he is "not sure" whether he wants to take the England job and admits it would be "difficult" to make the transition from club boss to international manager.

Redknapp is the overwhelming favourite to fill the vacant England manager's job following the resignation of Fabio Capello.

The Tottenham manager has spent the last month dealing with questions about the position, and a number of high-profile managers and players from within English football have backed the 65-year-old to succeed Capello.

Redknapp has blown hot and cold when asked about the job, admitting it is the "ultimate" position for any English manager while also conceding it would be hard to leave Spurs after three and a half years of success.

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"I'm not sure," Redknapp said in an interview with L'Equipe when asked if he would like to manage England. "I have a very good job at Tottenham today and I like it. But I do not know. We will wait and see."

At 65 years old, Redknapp would be forgiven for wanting to give up his daily gruelling routine of driving 125 miles to Tottenham's training ground, but he says his life at the London club is blissful and admits the challenges facing an international manager are totally different to those at club level.

"When you have a club, you are looking for a striker and you take them. When you're coach, you must do with the players you have in your country," he added. "If you do not have a good scorer, you have none. And you almost never see the players. Two days all two months: it is very difficult."

The FA have said they will wait until the "back end" of this season before making an approach for their preferred candidate as they are keen not to disrupt any domestic manager in charge of a club.

Redknapp is determined to continue with life as normal until the FA come calling, and has revealed that planning has already started on summer transfer targets.

After three successive defeats, Redknapp now faces the worrying prospect of seeing Spurs slip out of the race for Champions League football despite looking certain of a top-four spot at the turn of the year.

Arsenal can go one point behind Spurs if they win against Newcastle tonight, while Chelsea trail by just four points after their 1-0 win over Stoke on Saturday.

The Blues are without a permanent manager after the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, who Redknapp thinks faced an impossible task due to player power at Stamford Bridge.

"He received a group of ageing players who are very close to the owner (Roman Abramovich) and they therefore have a lot of power," Redknapp said. "I have had some difficult groups to manage but I have never had this problem. There can be solidarity between the players. If you leave two players on the bench they become unhappy and it becomes complicated.

"Perhaps Villas-Boas tried to change things too quickly, but he will learn from this experience."

Redknapp also has confirmed his interest in Eden Hazard, but fears competition from both Manchester City and Manchester United. He has made a number of trips across the Channel in recent months, with Hazard and Marseille's Loic Remy known to be his two main targets.

He has already confirmed his interest in Remy, and now he has underlined his liking for Lille's playmaker Hazard. The Belgian has spoken about Spurs' interest and has already suggested a move to White Hart Lane was in the pipeline.

Hazard also suggested he would be more willing to move to Tottenham, as he would be guaranteed first-team football.

"Our owner is willing to pay for an exceptional talent, like Eden Hazard," said Redknapp. "I have seen him several times recently in Marseilles [in January] and then also against PSG in the final of the Coupe de France [last May]. But I also know that Manchester United is looking at him and also Manchester City.

"It will be difficult to get him, but I like him a lot."

Redknapp also admitted that he was ready to make a personal check on Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud - who has been in impressive form this season.

"He looks good, I have read many good reports on him and I have a scout following the French championship," he said. "If a player attracts my attention I will watch him play."