As predicted by everybody apart from manager Harry Redknapp, Tottenham were involved in much of the news-worthy activity as the January Transfer window drew to a close this week.   The Lilywhites were at the centre of efforts to keep Redknapp’s former club Portsmouth afloat when they re-signed central defender Younes Kaboul, having sold him to the now-struggling South Coast outfit seventeen months ago.   And they snapped up former Chelsea and Barcelona forward Eidur Gudjohnsen, almost literally from under the noses of London rivals West Ham.

Tottenham also provided Scotland with its biggest transfer story when it provided Celtic with club (former) captain Robbie Keane one hour before the closure of the window north of the border.

Kaboul has rejoined Spurs for a reported £5-6m. He was originally signed from French club Auxerre in July 2007 but failed to settle under manager Juande Ramos, who replaced Martin Jol in the White Hart Lane hot-seat shortly after Kaboul’s arrival.

The 24-year-old linked up with Redknapp at Portsmouth, who signed him for £6m in August 2008 but had still not paid the whole fee when Spurs brought him back to the Lane last weekend.

 

Spurs have taken Gudjohnsen on-loan from Monaco until the end of the season, despite the 31-year-old Icelander undergoing a medical at West Ham upon arriving in the country last week.   It later emerged that Spurs had been negotiating a deal for Gudjohnsen long before West Ham’s interest became apparent.   Redknapp, however, was unable to offload unsettled Russian international striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Birmingham City made an offer for the disaffected 28-year-old which was someway below the £14m Spurs paid Spartak Moscow for his services in August 2008.

And despite continued interest from European clubs whose transfer windows were still open, Redknapp was unable to fashion a move.

The Spurs supremo had better fortune with Keane, who has joined Glasgow giants Celtic on-loan until the end of the season.

The much-travelled Keane was reportedly as much a boyhood Celtic fan as he was a Liverpool fan growing up in his native Dublin.

And he was already a popular figure among the Parkhead faithful for his many sterling displays in an Ireland shirt.

Celtic director Dermot Desmond is funding Keane’s £65-70,000 weekly wage.

Scottish international and former Rangers right-back Alan Hutton has joined Sunderland on-loan until the end of the season

Tottenham host Aston Villa this coming Saturday, both sides heavily involved in the race to secure the EPL’s fourth spot and consequential Champions League place.

Spurs are on the back of an impressive despatch of League One high-flyers Leeds from the FA Cup at Elland Road on Wednesday night, thanks to Jermaine Defoe’s hat-trick and a star performance from former-misfit David Bentley.

Bentley’s form is important as winger Aaron Lennon has suffered an injury setback. He injured his groin in the December win over West Ham. But a recent scan has revealed a hernia problem which may require surgery.

Lennon will be out for a minimum of a further two weeks.