Tottenham launch £8million move for West Ham star Matthew Upson - Exclusive

Harry Redknapp has made an £8m move to sign West Ham’s England defender Matthew Upson.

Crisis club West Ham may have to sell in January and Tottenham believe they can get Upson on the cheap - and may be ready to use Alan Hutton and David Bentley as part of the package.

Redknapp is already circling around his former club as he is desperate to strengthen his central defence with long-term injury doubts over Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate.

Big-spending Manchester City also fancy 30-year-old Upson but are also in for Borussia Dortmund’s £15m-rated defender Neven Subotic, 21.

City are keen to strengthen their squad as Joleon Lescott is out for up to eight weeks after knee surgery and Kolo Toure is going away on African Nations Cup duty.

But City may look to Subotic and now also face major competition for Upson after Spurs’ early move.

West Ham, in the middle of a takeover attempt by David Gold and David Sullivan, may have to sell one of their big-names in January and Spurs also fancy Scott Parker.

But West Ham are desperate to keep Parker but may have to sacrifice Upson, although their relegation scrap means Gianfranco Zola is desperate for new players.

Tottenham may use full back Hutton and Bentley as bait, although Spurs are determined to get their money back on their out-of-favour winger who joined from Blackburn for £15m, rising to £17m just 18 months ago.

Birmingham are also monitoring developments on Bentley who had a training ground bust-up with Redknapp last week and has since been frozen out of the first team squad.