Tottenham desperate to bring Patrick Vieira back to north London

Defiant Harry Redknapp last night continued defending his bid to bring ex-Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira back to north London in the white of Spurs.

The White Hart Lane boss has achieved many things in his illustrious career.

But should he convince Spurs fans to embrace the man who spent nine years captaining the club's most hated rivals it would rank right up there alongside his best.

Many neutrals believe Vieira is way past it at 33. That he would be Tottenham's new Edgar Davids - a highly decorated passenger soaking up the wage bill.

Yet Redknapp, seen in deep discussions with Vieira's pal Thierry Henry at the Wembley Cup yesterday, has been in negotiations with the midfielder's representatives for several weeks now.

Vieira refused point-blank to speak to Birmingham this month when chairman David Gold made a bold bid to sign him.

But Redknapp said: "He would bring presence, stature and a big personality to the club and team. He would be fantastic and it's testament to the character of the man he wants to play for Tottenham. Of course he can convince our fans."

Curiously, when Redknapp was asked about Vieira last Thursday, he laughed it off and joked: "Maybe I should get Sol Campbell back as well."

Yet, judging by the way Celtic's second-string strolled through a Spurs defence shorn of Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson, maybe it wouldn't be a surprise if Redknapp flicked through his mobile for Campbell's number too.

Because unless he can sort out their defensive crisis this looks like being another frustrating campaign for Tottenham.

A flick through the match programme revealed the Wembley Cup was designed by a 13-year-old who won a competition staged by a football magazine.

The reason Celtic were able to lift this trophy was Tottenham's makeshift central-defensive pairing of Pascal Chimbonda and Dorian Dervitte played as if THEY were 13-year-olds.

Goals by Chris Killen and Georgios Samaras gave Tony Mowbray's men a lift ahead of Wednesday's Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Moscow.