Redknapp vows to hang on to Tottenham stars

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has underlined his determination to keep his best players as the race for the Premier League title begins one of its most hectic phases.

Redknapp, whose side takes on Aston Villa at Villa Park today before ending 2010 at home to Newcastle two days’ later, has made it clear playmaker Luka Modric is not for sale.

The Croatia international had been linked with Chelsea but Redknapp was adamant there was no possibility of Modric joining Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge when the transfer window opens next month.

“He is such a fantastic player,” he said.

“If we start selling such a player like that then we might as well all go home.

“Modric is a different class and is not going anywhere for sure. He (Ancelotti) might have his eye on him but he is not going to get him.

“He is a pleasure to work with. He is a fantastic player. We are building a team here, not dismantling one.”

Redknapp is willing to let Ireland forward Robbie Keane leave, however, and that could be of interest to Villa manager Gerard Houllier, with West Ham and Birmingham also understood to be keen.

In the meantime, Tottenham will be looking to take maximum points at Villa Park to move within a point of Chelsea, who face Arsenal tomorrow, in fourth place.

Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is set for a return after being sidelined by a hamstring problem.

“We have to win our games and have confidence that we will be in the top four,” Dutch international Van der Vaart said.

“There are a lot of good teams in the league but we play well against the big ones and (against) some of the small clubs we have our problems.”