Spurs clinch Van der Vaart

[Gazza_8 233]

Absolute steal at �£8m.

 

From the Beeb....

 

Tottenham have secured the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart for �£8m.

 

Spurs moved to sign the 27-year-old Netherlands international two hours before the transfer window closed at 1800 BST on Tuesday.

 

But the club's urgency to file the necessary paperwork before the deadline was hampered by a technical problem.

 

However, the Premier League sanctioned the signing after investigating Tottenham's claims on Wednesday.

 

Spurs faced an anxious wait as the Premier League assessed their claims with the 1700 BST cut-off point on Wednesday fast approaching for clubs to submit their 25-man senior squads for the first half of the season.

 

Van der Vaart becomes Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp's second deadline-day signing following the capture of Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa on a season-long loan from Russian club Spartak Moscow.

 

Real had disputed Redknapp's claims that Bayern Munich had earlier made an offer of more than double their bid for Van der Vaart.

 

Redknapp said on Tuesday: "It was a last-minute job. I think he was going to Bayern Munich on Monday for �£18m and suddenly he became much cheaper.

 

"They let me know around 4pm (1600 BST) that he was available for �£8m and, for that money, he is a top player who will definitely improve us. The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close."

 

However, Real's statement said: "It is absolutely false that Real Madrid received a 21m euro (�£18m) offer from Bayern Munich for Van der Vaart.

 

"In fact, the German team never showed an interest to sign the player, so the allegations made in England have greatly surprised us."

 

Van der Vaart helped his country reach the final of the 2010 World Cup and made his reputation as a playmaker at Ajax before switching to German side Hamburg.

 

He spent three seasons at the Bundesliga club before moving to Real Madrid in August 2008 where he appears to have become surplus to requirements as their new manager Jose Mourinho stamps his authority on the club.

 

With 83 international caps for the Netherlands, 16 goals, including two European Championships and World Cups, Van der Vaart will give Tottenham experience and creativity to Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp's attack in the Champions League as well as domestically.

 

Redknapp also confirmed he had made an enquiry about Liverpool winger Ryan Babel but "never came close" to landing him.