Tottenham are on the verge of signing former Arsenal and Chelsea defender William Gallas on a free transfer.
The 33-year-old France international is to undergo a medical on Friday after agreeing terms on a one-year deal with an option to extend.
"He's a no-brainer on a free transfer," said boss Harry Redknapp.
"He's never asked for big money here. The chairman's agreed a one-year contract with him and the wages are more than reasonable."
It is understood that Gallas has agreed to take a wage cut to join Spurs after rejecting an offer from Arsenal over the summer that amounted to a pay cut and shortened deal.
 | We are thankful for what he has done for us and we wish him good luck in his new club
|
Redknapp is unworried by the defender's connections to either Arsenal or Chelsea. Gallas spent four years at the Gunners, having spent five years at Stamford Bridge before that.
"It's all cobblers," said Redknapp. "What's he done? It's not the Yorkshire Ripper I'm signing, is it? He's a footballer, he plays football."
The Spurs boss added: "He's not the first player to go from Arsenal to Tottenham or Tottenham to Arsenal. It happens all the time.
"He's a great lad as well, smashing fellow. I've been absolutely really impressed with him."
"He'll improve Tottenham and that's all I'm concerned about."
| OTHERS WHO HAVE CROSSED THE NORTH LONDON DIVIDE Jimmy Robertson (Spurs 1964-48/Arsenal 1968-70):The only player to score for both teams in the derby Steve Walford (Spurs 1975-77/Arsenal 1977-81): Just two Tottenham appearances before Gunners boss Terry Neill took him to Highbury Pat Jennings (Spurs 1964-77/Arsenal 1977-85): The legendary Northern Irish goalkeeper won the FA Cup with either club (1967 and 1979) Sol Campbell (Spurs 1992-2001/Arsenal 2001-06):Suffered years of vitriol and abuse from the Spurs faithful over his switch to Arsenal, where he won two league titles and three FA Cups |
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger gave Gallas his best wishes on the move across north London, and intimated his exit was somewhat inevitable following the summer arrival of centre-back Laurent Koscielny from Lorient.
"I can completely understand that," said Wenger. "At the moment he's looking for a club, he's free. He has chosen the best possible option for him.
"We are thankful for what he has done for us and we wish him good luck in his new club."
Wenger continued: "It was more down to timing why William left.
"We had not found an agreement towards the end of the season and then I turned somewhere else.
"I focused completely on signing Koscielny and it took me a long, long time to do that.
"You have to turn somewhere else and now we trust Koscielny, [Johan] Djourou, [Thomas] Vermaelen and [Alex] Song."
Wenger 'surprised' by Gallas decision
And asked if Gallas could come back to haunt his old club, Wenger added: "There is just a little bit of a risk that he is a bit more exposed in the derby, but we have seen that before."
With Jonathan Woodgate still out with a long-term groin injury and captain Ledley King plagued by knee problems that limit his playing time, Redknapp has been keen to bolster his defensive resources.
The Spurs boss said Woodgate's recurring injury problems would require further surgery.
"That's [Woodgate's] last chance," said Redknapp. "Well, probably. His last resort, I think, will be an op."
Gallas will also provide competition to centre-backs Michael Dawson, Sebastien Bassong and Younes Kaboul.
The Frenchman will not be signed in time to face Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday and was not registered for European competition so he cannot play against Young Boys in the second leg of Spurs' Champions League qualifier on Wednesday.
Redknapp admitted that the acquisition of Gallas may not mark the end of his summer spending.
But the former Portsmouth boss said he did not believe that Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar or Real Madrid anchorman Lassana Diarra - both rumoured Spurs targets - would follow him to White Hart Lane.
| 606: DEBATE |
So far Brazilian Sandro is Redknapp's only other capture of this transfer window.
The 21-year-old defensive midfielder will arrive at the club next week after helping Internacional to the Copa Libertadores title against Mexico's Chivas Gudalajara on Wednesday.
A £7m deal for Sandro was agreed back in March but the player - who has been learning English since then - was allowed to stay with Internacional for as long as the club were in the Copa Libertadores.
"It was the farewell of my dreams," he said after lifting the trophy on Wednesday. "I dreamed of being champion and leaving with this trophy in my luggage."
BBC.co.uk
Image via Wikipedia
