Redknapp sure Spurs will invest

Soccer: Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is sure chairman Daniel Levy will make money available again this summer to sign the players…

Soccer:Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is sure chairman Daniel Levy will make money available again this summer to sign the players he feels the club need to challenge for a top-four place next season.

Despite a recent run of five Premier League games without a win, Tottenham look set to qualify for next year's Champions League after maintaining their five-point lead over Chelsea with a draw at Stamford Bridge last week.

Spurs' chances of finishing third may be fading - Arsenal can move six points clear of their north London rivals if they beat QPR on Saturday - but Redknapp still insists a fourth-place finish will be an impressive achievement given the big spending of their rivals this season.

Redknapp has spent a fraction of the money that has been on offer at Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United this term, with Scott Parker, Brad Friedel and loanee Emmanuel Adebayor the only arrivals at the club last summer.

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The 65-year-old may not be at Tottenham next season as he has been heavily tipped to take over the England job, but he thinks whoever is in charge will have the money at their disposal to buy players. Spurs have been linked with Ligue 1 pair Eden Hazard and Loic Remy.

"Everything is in place for the club to keep progressing now, we've got a new training ground coming (this summer), but when it comes down to it, you can have all the facilities in the world, but you have to keep investing in players," Redknapp said. "I think Tottenham will do that next year, we will look to improve the team again next year."

Spurs chairman Levy had feared the club was set to be relegated when he sacked Juande Ramos and replaced him with Redknapp in 2008.

Some fans of the north London club have been frustrated at seeing their club fall out of the reckoning for the title this year, but Redknapp insists they should be happy with how the team have performed this season.

"I know just how disappointed people will be if we don't make the Champions League. I am not silly. I understand that because of the position we were in," he added. "But at the start of the year we would have been fifth or sixth favourites to make the Champions League in all honesty. We are looking for Champions League qualification. I think we will get a Champions League place, we have an FA Cup semi-final to come against Chelsea. These are great times for us.

"Last season we got to the quarter finals of the Champions League. We are getting better all the time. We have established ourselves now. We are right there every year now so there is no reason why Tottenham shouldn't be there every year for the next God knows how many years."

Tottenham will be looking to keep up the pressure on Arsenal by ending their seven-week wait for a league victory on Sunday against Swansea.

Redknapp spoke in glowing terms about Swans boss Brendan Rodgers yesterday, claiming the 39-year-old has a bright future in top-flight management.

Redknapp is a big fan of the attractive football Swansea play and has also been impressed with how Rodgers has been able to develop Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who has been on loan at the Liberty Stadium this season.

"Caulker has done very well for them, he has had a great season," Redknapp added. "He is only a young player. We like him and it has been a great experience for him to play for them this year."

Redknapp has Aaron Lennon available for the first time in three weeks after he recovered from a hamstring injury, but he may be forced to rest Ledley King after he started Tuesday's FA Cup quarter-final win over Bolton