LONDON - TOTTENHAM coach Harry Redknapp said on Saturday that he will not be forced to pay an inflated transfer fee to bring England striker Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane from Premier League rivals Portsmouth.

Redknapp took Defoe to Portsmouth in January when he was in charge at Fratton Park, but admitted he may now switch his attention to Middlesbrough's international winger Stuart Downing.

'I think they have a massive offer from somebody for him (Defoe). I paid about nine million pounds for him,' Redknapp said.

'He is a good player but we're not going to pay over the top for anyone. I like Downing but I don't know whether Middlesbrough want to sell him.' -- AFP