• Harry Redknapp moves late for midfielder on deadline day
• ‘I wouldn’t like to say. It was a last-minute job’

The Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, tonight said he was “hopeful” that Rafael van der Vaart will join the club from Real Madrid.

Redknapp moved late for the 27-year-old Dutch midfielder on deadline day, after being alerted to his availability at around 4pm, and Spurs were still waiting for confirmation from the Premier League that the transfer can go through.

“It’s still dragging on,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News. “We have been trying to do something. We are just waiting for some clearance.

“I think he was going to Bayern Munich yesterday for £18m. He is available now for about £8m and we thought for that amount of money he is a top player.

“I’m hopeful, it could happen, honestly I wouldn’t like to say one way or the other. It was a last-minute job.”

Tottenham HotspurTransfer windowKaty Murrellsguardian.co.uk

• Dutchman will bid for Tottenham striker if he joins Fulham
• Ajax manager coached Keane when they were at Spurs

Martin Jol is likely to make a bid for the Tottenham striker Robbie Keane if, as expected, he takes over at Fulham this week. The Dutchman managed Keane at White Hart Lane and has been promised about £20m to spend on transfers should he accept the job at Craven Cottage.

Jol indicated that he would be leaving Ajax for Fulham. “On Thursday evening Fulham contacted me,” he said. “Fulham told me they wanted me as their new manager and they contacted Ajax. The Premier League is the best competition in the world and I like London very much. Fulham is a great opportunity. The way it is going at Ajax we cannot play for the title or the biggest prizes.”

Ajax were last night trying to persuade Jol to stay. “For the past two weeks I have been very worried about what is going to happen,” Jol said. “In the past they [Ajax] have paid too much for not so good players and now they have no money to invest in the squad.”

Jol intends to bring his brother Cornelius to Fulham as part of his backroom staff.

FulhamTottenham HotspurJon Brodkinguardian.co.uk