• Real Madrid deny Redknapp’s Bayern claims
• Midfielder ‘excited about playing in England’

Rafael van der Vaart’s £8m transfer to Tottenham Hotspur from Real Madrid was officially ratified by the Premier League this afternoon but there was some dispute from the Spanish side regarding Harry Redknapp’s claim yesterday that Bayern Munich had been prepared to pay £18m for him before the move broke down. The Spurs manager said: “The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close.”

Real’s sports director, Miguel Pardeza, told the club’s website: “It is absolutely false that Real Madrid received a €21m offer from Bayern Munich for Van der Vaart. In fact, the German team never showed an interest to sign the player, so the allegations made in England have greatly surprised us.” Spurs have no further comment to make.

The club lodged the requisite paperwork with the Premier League close to yesterday’s 6pm transfer window deadline and had to wait until today before Van der Vaart was officially confirmed as their player. His signing pushed the defender Jonathan Woodgate out of the 25-man squad for the first half of the league season, which was named by Redknapp today.

The 29-year-old Woodgate has played once in two years for the senior team. His exclusion will fuel speculation that his career may be under serious threat due to a chronic groin problem. Redknapp said last month of the injury: “It’s so sad for Jonathan. He’s such a good player and a great lad as well. He’s been all round the world really, trying to find a cure for this groin problem. He’s seen two specialists and he’s going to get one more opinion but they seem to be of the opinion that the only chance is an operation.”

The Holland playmaker Van der Vaart, who featured in the World Cup final, told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “Four years at Spurs, for €11m, I can hardly believe it myself. The interest from Tottenham came very quickly and I did not have much time to think. But I want to play football again and, if possible, every week, with a beautiful club. I’m totally happy.”

He admitted concern regarding where he might fit into Redknapp’s team, saying: “I am excited about playing in England. Whether it suits my style remains to be seen but I think a good footballer can adapt and I am very proud of this transfer.” Van der Vaart was Redknapp’s second signing on deadline day, following the loan deal for the Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.

Tottenham HotspurTransfer windowJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk

• Tottenham keen to sign midfielder and will make improved offer
• Parker ‘not for sale at any price’ said West Ham after first bid

Harry Redknapp will test West Ham United’s resolve over Scott Parker by making a renewed attempt to sign him from Upton Park before the closure of the transfer window. The Tottenham Hotspur manager is expected to offer the striker Robbie Keane to sweeten the deal.

Redknapp wants another body in central midfield, even though he has signed the 21-year-old Brazil midfielder Sandro from Internacional for £6m, and he has looked at Parker, Lassana Diarra of Real Madrid and Internazionale’s Sulley Muntari.

Redknapp has already seen a £7m bid for Parker turned down but, in keeping with the Tottenham strategy of going down to the wire on deadline day, he is ready to go back to West Ham, his former club, with an improved offer.

He knows that Parker, West Ham’s captain and key player, would welcome the chance to consider the move, despite its potential for acrimony, yet there is resistance to the sale at boardroom level at Upton Park. When the club’s co-chairman David Sullivan rejected Tottenham’s £7m offer at the end of July, he was categorical on the situation.

“I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I will not, for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham supporters,” he said. “Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone.”

Parker has three years to run on his West Ham contract and the club have offered him a lucrative new five-year deal, which he has not yet signed.

Keane has grown frustrated at his fringe role at Tottenham and Avram Grant, the West Ham manager, is on record as saying that he likes the Ireland striker.

Redknapp watched one of his attacking targets, the Sevilla striker Luís Fabiano, commit his future to his current employers by signing a two-year contract extension today. Redknapp had admitted that the Brazil international was “a player I like” but Tottenham were put off by Sevilla’s valuation. “One year left on his contract, in excess of £24m-£25m for a 29-year-old – the figures don’t stack up,” Redknapp said.

The Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon will see a specialist tomorrow about an ankle problem that has bothered him of late. He has been left out of the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland.

West Ham hope to conclude a loan deal for the Everton centre-half Joseph Yobo. Fabio Daprelà, the 19-year-old Swiss defender, has left West Ham to sign a five‑year deal with the Italian club Brescia.

West Ham UnitedTottenham HotspurTransfer windowDavid Hytnerguardian.co.uk