Tottenham are poised to return with an improved bid for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy after Harry Redknapp revealed the north London side are trying to sign the Wales international.
Reports emerged on Christmas Eve that Spurs had made enquiries as to the availability of Bellamy, offering a fee believed to be in the region on £6 million for the player.
Redknapp has now explained that Spurs were unsuccessful in their efforts to initiate a transfer for Bellamy, thus leaving his club pondering whether to up their bid for the 29-year-old.
"I like Craig Bellamy," said Redknapp. "It apparently came out an offer was turned down so I don't know where we go from here.
"We're looking round a few players and he's certainly one of them."
Redknapp has already confirmed that he is prepared to bring targets in on loan if he is unable to negotiate permanent deals, and has backed other clubs to allow some of their stars to go out on temporary deals in order to cut costs.
"I think British clubs will loan players out, with the current situation they will look to get players off their wage bill," Redknapp said.
"If we can't get the players I think will improve the squad, then I won't bring in anybody. I'm not going to load us up with players that aren't better than we've got."
Yet another star linked with White Hart Lane has been Real Mallorca’s Juan Arango, although the Venezuelan has himself rubbished the connection with Spurs.
"Rumours, they are just rumours,” he said. “I always receive offers and proposals.
"Before the beginning of the season, something was said on Liverpool or Tottenham. Now, they are talking about Panathinaikos and another possibility with an English team.
"As long as I am not given a concrete offer, they are just rumours."