Keane looks to leave Spurs to start playing again

Posted Friday, December 24, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. …

LONDON (AP)—Tottenham striker Robbie Keane is searching for a new club in the January transfer window after being squeezed out of the team.

With Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Rafael van der Vaart the preferred forward options, Keane has started only two English Premier League matches this season. His only goal came in a League Cup loss to Arsenal.

Keane joined Spurs in 2002 after stints at Leeds, Inter Milan, Coventry and Wolverhampton. After being lured to Liverpool in the 2008 offseason, Keane was a flop at Anfield and was re-signed by Spurs six months later.

“Robbie would like to move and he wants to play—he is a boy who has played all his career,” Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said on Friday. “He is not used to not playing. He is still a top player and would grace most clubs.

“It’s just that he has been unfortunate with Rafa coming in and I’ve been playing one up with him. I have Defoe, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko and Robbie so it’s been difficult getting him in the team. I haven’t heard anything about any offers for him though.”

Birmingham has been touted as a destination for Keane after the central England club prioritized the need to sign an experienced striker in January.

Redknapp also said on Friday that center back Jonathan Woodgate could be sent out on loan to aid his recovery from a long-term groin injury.

The 30-year-old former Real Madrid defender returned to training this week after spending more than a year on the sidelines.

Woodgate’s career has been blighted by back and knee injuries and his groin problem restricted him to just three appearances last season.

“I spoke to Jonathan and I said to him that if he comes through the next couple of weeks then it might be a good idea for him to go out on loan to play some matches,” Redknapp said. “I think he fancies that. He has been out a long time and he is a fantastic center half.

“Anyone who loans Jonathan Woodgate is getting one of the best center halves in the Premier League and I would be willing to do that just to give him some games.”