Redknapp "Keane" to bring Robbie to QPR

QPR boss Harry Redknapp is interested in signing Los Angeles Galaxy striker Robbie Keane in January.
The 32-year-old played under Redknapp at Tottenham and, with the Major League Soccer season over, could be available on a short-term deal similar to that which took him to Aston Villa last season.“Robbie Keane is a good shout,” Redknapp said in the Daily Telegraph. “I haven’t spoken to him yet but he would be an interesting player. He’s a good pro and he’d be an ideal type to have around.” Harry Redknapp knows all about Robbie Keane from their shared time together at White Hart Lane and the Irish international has just completed a very successful season with the LA Galaxy, the 32 year old helping his side to an MLS Cup Final triumph, and the idea of a couple of months Premier League action will certainly interest the prolific forward.However a lot clearly depends on whether LA Galaxy are open to such a switch that on the one hand keeps their prized asset fresh over the US mid-season break but on the other hand could result in an injury to the striker.
QPR are still without a win this season and though Harry Redknapp has stabilized things at the back with back to back draws it is clear that there is a distinct lack of effective firepower in his Loftus Road squad. The West London side have managed just 11 goals in 15 top tier matches this season.
Keane scored 22 goals in 34 appearances for the LA Galaxy in the season that ended a week ago so is likely to be fighting fit and fresh enough to make an instant impact at QPR.

Keane set to join Beckham's Galaxy of stars in LA

Robbie Keane was last night widely reported to be considering a move to LA Galaxy after having apparently become frustrated at the lack of desirable options available to him in the Premier League. The Irish captain, who said earlier this week that he expects to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the current window, had been seen as a target for Leicester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson in recent days but the Dubliner was adamant when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday that he would not drop into the Championship. West Brom and Blackburn Rovers were among the Premier League clubs rumoured to be interested in the striker but last night reports circulated that Galaxy were in talks with Spurs about the player, with some suggesting that the 31-year-old was on a flight to the United States to discuss a move worth €5.6 million over two years and others claiming that the deal was actually done. On the face of it, such a deal would seem unlikely given that the MLS season is well advanced and Galaxy already have the maximum three “designated players” permitted under thee league’s rules. Clubs are allowed count only a small portion of the wages of such players for the purposes of the salary cap imposed on all teams. Galaxy’s three are David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Juan Pablo Angel, with the latter seen as by far the most likely to be moved on in the event that space was to be made for the Irishman. Despite the apparent implausibility of the move – Keane also suggested previously that he would be more likely to consider a move to continental Europe than to the US after previously being linked with an MLS outfit – Fox Sports last night reported that Galaxy sources had confirmed that talks between the various parties were in progress with a view to striking a deal. Such a move could prove problematic for Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, with some other US-based European players finding it difficult to maintain their fitness for all international matches because of the different league seasons. Keane would, on the other hand, be expected to play regularly in the event that the club was prepared to invest so heavily in bringing him over from London in the first place. The Irishman has scored 123 goals is just over 300 games for Tottenham during two spells which extend back over nearly a decade. Since returning to White Hart Lane in 2009 he has become completely marginalised and was twice been sent out on loan, with the player enjoying a successful spell at Celtic and a much less memorable one at West Ham towards the end of last season. His relationship with manager Harry Redknapp is rumoured to have become extremely strained prior to his departure for Upton Park and on Tuesday he accepted that he needed to move on, observing: “When your time is up, it’s up.” He didn’t rule out a move abroad but seemed to hint that he would most likely move to another Premier League outfit.

Martin Jol to Sign Robbie Keane?

Martin Jol’s appointment as new Fulham manager could spell good news for Robbie Keane, who arguably hit his best club form whilst under the tutelage of the former Ajax boss at Tottenham Hotspur between 2004 and 2007.Whilst scoring his 50th and 51st international goals on Saturday, the sight of Keane celebrating merely highlighted the frustration he must feel at a delicately poised time in his club career.Since returning to Spurs from Liverpool in 2009, Keane has not managed to inspire the magic of old. Harry Redknapp has often found himself picking the Irish captain as a fourth or fifth choice striker behind Jermaine Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Peter Crouch and (attacking midfielder) Rafael Van Der Vaart.In the two years of his second stint at White Hart Lane, Keane has spent the second half of each season being farmed out on Loan. First up were his boyhood favourites Celtic, a move which could have been portrayed as the players own choice, a protest at his lack of game time in the Premier League.But when he was forced to join West Ham’s ill-fated relegation dogfight last January – with Spurs still chasing a Champions League place – it was made clear that the Dubliners second coming at the Lane would not be as fruitful as the first and he would no longer be welcomed back with open arms.

The problem for Daniel Levy, and by extension Redknapp, is finding a club who can offer a half decent fee for the man who caused them to repay Liverpool £12 million in 2009. The striker added further difficulty in greasing the wheels as he apparently refused any wage-cut to go and seek out regular football.

Fulham may not give an assurance of ticking both boxes, but the Cottage provides a suitable environment for Keane to ply his trade. The Whites will play in the Europa League, they will undoubtedly be operating above the mid-table watermark and they play an effective mix of short passing and direct football.

Perhaps the only sticking point would be Mohammed al Fayed, who would require a little more flexibility from Keane regarding his reputed €73,000 per week wages.

Keane was not always first choice under Jol. However, unlike the deteriorating form seen under Redknapp, Keane consistently improved as each season progressed under the Dutchman.

It is well known that he and Defoe never managed to click as a partnership but Ireland’s record goalscorer did forge very effective alliances with Dimitar Berbatov (which caused Rafa Benitez to take Keane to Anfield) Mido and, most effectively, with Frederic Kanoute.

If Keane does make the move across London to Craven Cottage then he will have a ready-made partner in the shape of Bobby Zamora. Fulham’s target man may be a Kanoute-lite type figure but as Jol attempts to pick up where he left off in English football he could do much worse than pairing Zamora with a transfer listed striker who previously scored 55 goals in 127 games for him between 04 and 07.

Former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is rumoured to be lined up as Jol’s assistant, reprising the role where he cut his teeth in football management. The presence of the former Republic of Ireland fullback would further strengthen the welcome party for Keane.

But Robbie can’t just sit back and see what happens while he is on holidays. He needs to get in contact with Jol this week for a chat about the good old days… and how he can help give Fulham the swagger which characterised Jol’s top-four chasing Spurs side.

Of Course, Keane would not be a certain starter in West London; he would face stiff competition from the coach’s countryman, Moussa Dembele. But as a striker who will be 31 at the beginning of next season; Keane, rather than fighting against the management, must learn to love the squad rotation process that will prolong his career and keep him fresh enough to further stretch his goals haul for Ireland.

Redknapp Closes In On West Ham Midfielder Scott Parker

Harry Redknapp looks set to sign West Ham midfielder Scott Parker but will not complete a deal until Daniel Levy sees the North London side offload some of the club’s expansive squad before he will allow the addition of any new faces to the White Hart Lane squad.Wilson Palacios had a poor season last term during which time the Honduras international looked a shadow of the player who had helped Tottenham break into the top four and a move to Napoli, who have qualified for Champions League football next term, would be a good one for the defensive midfielder.Redknapp will also be looking to find buyers for winger David Bentley, cultured playmaker Niko Kranjcar, striker Robbie Keane and midfielder Jamie O’Hara as the Tottenham boss prepares to make way for a few new faces this summer.More importantly the Spurs manager will fight tooth and nail to keep the club’s much sought after talent and will not entertain offers of any size for the likes of Gareth Bale, Rafael Van der Vaart, Luka Modric or Sandro but knows in order to balance the books he must sell a significant number of squad players if he then wants to improve problems areas at the club.
Having brought in Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel to replace error prone Brazilian Heurelho Gomes, Redknapp will also be looking to bring in new striker options and will hope to beat off prospective suitors to sign West Ham’s Scott Parker to help add more steel to his midfield.

Robbie Keane out for six weeks

West Ham striker Robbie Keane looks set to be ruled out for six weeks with a torn calf muscle sustained in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Birmingham, according to the Daily Mail.

Keane was substituted after 76 minutes at Upton Park, and subsequently withdrew from the Republic of Ireland squad to face Wales in the Home Nations Cup.

The news comes as a blow to Hammers boss Avram Grant, who had hoped his January loan signing from Tottenham would be a key figure in his side's relegation fight, especially as they face fellow league strugglers West Brom on Saturday.

Grant is now left to choose from striker Carlton Cole, Frederic Piquionne and new signing Demba Ba, who joined from Hoffenheim in a £6 million move this January, for West Ham's visit to the Hawthorns.

Keane, who is also a doubt for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifiers in March, has moved to Upton Park until the end of the season, and could secure a £6m permanent move if he helps maintain the Hammers' Premier League status.