Tottenham make cut-price £5m offer for Jermain Defoe

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp yesterday launched a cut-price £5million bid to sign Jermain Defoe.

Redknapp and chairman Daniel Levy have started negotiations because they want to sign the striker before Portsmouth's FA Cup thirdround clash with Bristol City tomorrow so he is not cup-tied.

Pompey last night admitted they have no choice but to sell Defoe, with the England star demanding a move.

The FA Cup holders could be without any first-choice strikers by the end of January because Aston Villa want Peter Crouch to replace the injured John Carew if they fail to get Emile Heskey from Wigan.

Redknapp has been desperate to take Defoe back to north London since he went there in October and Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie confirmed last night: "It looks like Jermain wants to go."

Portsmouth still owe Tottenham instalments on the Defoe deal from 12 months ago and have not finished paying for French defender Younes Kaboul.

Hitman Defoe, 26, is likely to be pulled out of the Fratton Park Cuptie after saying he wants to return to White Hart Lane.

Tottenham got clearance for the deal from the Premier League because it does not contravene the spirit of their rule which states clubs cannot re-sign players within 12 months to stop the danger of players being farmed out.

They want to pay a maximum of £12m for the player, but will deduct the £4m they are owed from the £9m transfer of Defoe and the £2m still outstanding for Kaboul who left them for Pompey in the summer.

Tottenham are also still keen on West Ham's Craig Bellamy and Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing.

And they are also tracking Porto winger Cristian Rodriguez and Real Mallorca's left-sided midfielder Juan Arango.

Pompey boss Tony Adams has launched a £2.5m bid to re-sign Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil, wants Lyon's Sidney Govou for £3m and Nottingham Forest's £1m striker Nathan Tyson.

He has also offered defender former West Ham and Chelsea right-back Glen Johnson a new deal to stop him moving to either Tottenham or Liverpool.

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