Adebayor and Redknapp bicker as Spurs slump

Emmanuel Adebayor is set to become the biggest casualty of Tottenham's disastrous late-season slump.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has become frustrated with the on-loan Manchester City striker, and the pair have had a frank exchange of views amid his personal run of poor form.

Adebayor, who missed Saturday's defeat at QPR with a hamstring injury, felt he was being singled out as Redknapp looked for reasons why they have managed just one win in nine games.

Redknapp, who is favourite for the England job and could quit Spurs this summer, had said earlier in the season that he would like to sign the Togo international permanently.

But Tottenham, whose once-thrilling season is threatening to implode, are now unlikely to make Adebayor's loan deal permanent.

The north Londoners have spent much of the campaign looking likely to finish third and qualify directly for the group stage of next season's Champions League, but now face finishing as low as sixth.

After just one win in their last nine games, questions are being asked about the club's January deals.

Redknapp has defended his decisions to allow Steven Pienaar and Vedran Corluka to leave White Hart Lane on loan and bring in short-term signings Ryan Nelsen and Louis Saha, who are likely to be axed in the summer.

The Spurs boss is feeling the pressure as tensions rise in the dressing room following their slump.

Redknapp has set his players a target of winning their remaining four games, but Adebayor's hamstring, Saha's groin problem and a string of crocked defenders will make it tough.

Michael Dawson is out for the season and Nelsen missed Saturday's defeat at Loftus Road while Younes Kaboul has also been out with a knee injury.

Kaboul has also come in for criticism after recent performances.

Redknapp defended his winter-window dealings and insisted bad luck on injuries is the biggest factor.

"Corluka wanted to go. He wanted to move," he said. "Pienaar wanted to go, so we let him go.

"We have no problem in midfield as I have got Sandro to play there. The only problem that we have had is that we are a little bit short up front.

"I had five central defenders and now I have only two. I have lost Dawson, Kaboul and Nelsen. I had five. How many do you want? Five is plenty for two positions."