Spurs have this afternoon announced the capture of Scott Parker from West Ham in a deal thought to be around £6m.
The move ends Harry Redknapp’s long pursuit of the midfielder and, in light of a current spate of injuries, brings a much-needed tenacity to the club’s midfield area.
Parker, last season’s Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, handed in a transfer request at Upton Park over the last few days, causing the deal to move closer to completion.
The Statistics
A product of the Lilleshall Academy, Parker’s career kicked off at Charlton in the 1997/98 season. Over the period of seven campaigns, he established himself as a first-team regular, playing 128 games and scoring 9 goals. A move to Chelsea never panned out as planned and after 15 games and 1 goal, Parker headed to St James’ Park.
Two seasons at Newcastle brought 55 games and 4 goals, with Parker’s leadership qualities seeing him captain the Magpies before West Ham came calling. Parker’s time at Upton Park has seen him mature as a player and although he grabbed just 10 goals in 113 league games, last season was his finest- he grabbed 5 goals in 32 games but his inspirational performances were not enough to prevent the Hammers slipping into the Championship.
The Prospects
Parker will surely partner Luka Modric in the centre of Tottenham’s midfield and his move to White Hart Lane will certainly place question marks against the likes of Tom Huddlestone’s first-team starts. Jermaine Jenas also seems surplus to requirement, with a move to Aston Villa on the horizon later on today.
Harry Redknapp is desperate for a fresh injection of new players, with Sunday’s 5-1 home hammering by Man City indicative of a need for new blood. Emmanuel Adebayor has joined from Man City as Redknapp looks to freshen up his misfiring strike force, while a need to address things at the back means the club are also leading the race for Bolton’s Gary Cahill ahead of tonight’s deadline.
Parker was something of a Bonus Points darling last season and his arrival in central midfield could lessen the Fantasy appeal of Luka Modric- the Croatian was also a favourite of the Bonus judges, with a total of 34 last term, and only found the net 3 times in 2010/11. After a bright first forty five minutes at Old Trafford, Spurs have subsequently looked a downbeat side and Redknapp will be hoping Parker’s snap and tenacity in the tackle will address that.
