• Redknapp claims Spurs can win Premier League title
• Manager disappointed to miss out on Joe Cole signing

Harry Redknapp believes Tottenham Hotspur have a realistic chance of challenging for the Premier League title this season.

The Spurs manager has added only the Brazilian midfielder Sandro Ranieri to his first-team squad but expects his side to build on last season’s fourth place.

“I feel we could contend for the title. We have got the players here,” he said. “We have to aim for it. We could win the championship.”

“Last year we went in saying we wanted to finish in the top four and if you don’t aim for things, you have no chance.”

Redknapp, whose Tottenham side play New York Red Bulls in the early hours of tomorrow morning, said he would have to strengthen his squad if they are to make a lasting impression in the Champions League this term.

Spurs are yet to seal a place in the tournament’s group stages, with a two-leg qualifier following shortly after their home match with Manchester City on 14 August.

“The Champions League is massive – forget budgets – we just want to be there,” Redknapp said. “If we can get into the group stages we can make an impact. We have good players – some fantastic ones at our club. And they can get better.

“We are going to have to rotate at times – we cannot play the best players all the time. I feel that, if we can bring one or two players in, it will make a difference.”

Redknapp said he is continuing to look to make high-profile signings despite missing out on Joe Cole, who has joined Liverpool.

“We are disappointed to miss out on Joe Cole because he was a great free transfer and he must have had a better offer from Liverpool.

“I spoke to him a month ago and I thought he was coming here. He wanted to come to Tottenham. He had made his mind up – I had no doubt about that. But a month went by and Liverpool moved in.”

Tottenham HotspurPremier LeagueJames Callowguardian.co.uk

• Redknapp hopeful Tottenham chairman can clinch deal
• ‘City can easily win the league, Everton will be stronger’

Harry Redknapp has said that he has not given up on signing Joe Cole for the new season. The Tottenham Hotspur manager has been linked with the a move for the England player for some time and said today that his chairman, Daniel Levy, is talking to Cole’s representatives.

“We’re interested in Joe [Cole],” Redknapp told Talksport. “I know Daniel [Levy, Spurs chairman] was talking to his people and we’re interested. If the chairman can pull a deal off I’d love to have him at Tottenham. But it all comes down to if we can do a deal. I don’t get involved in the financial side; the chairman can do that with Joe’s people. Hopefully there is a deal that can be done because we would love him at White Hart Lane.”

The 63-year-old, who was working as a pundit for the BBC during the World Cup, added that the chances of signing Steven Pienaar are slim. “I like Pienaar, don’t get me wrong. But there is nothing there. I wouldn’t see that as being a real goer.”

Talking about the new season, Redknapp said: “It’s going to be even harder to make the top four, that’s for definite. Manchester City could quite easily win the Premier League. If they get the players in now, they’ve already got the nucleus of a good team. They’re in for [Liverpool striker, Fernando] Torres, if they end up getting him and one or two others then they can do anything. It’s going to make it more difficult.

“I think Everton will be stronger next year. They had a lot of injures this year. They are a well organised, difficult team to play against. They’ll be very close again to that top four. It’s going to be even harder next year, but we’re looking forward to the qualifiers for the Champions League and hopefully we can get through that first game and into the group stages and I think we can make a fair impact.”

Tottenham HotspurHarry RedknappMarcus Christensonguardian.co.uk