Spurs striker to be allowed to leave in January

The 30-year-old has long been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane, after falling behind Peter Crouch, Roman Pavyluchenko and Jermain Defoe in the pecking order.

Redknapp said: “I think he’d like to move – he wants to play, you know?

“He’s not used to not playing. All his career, he’s played and been a big player and he wants to play.

“He could sit here and take his wages, but that’s not him.

“He wants to play football. He trains hard, works hard every day, he’s shown a great attitude.

“And probably the hardest decision I had to make was last week: I couldn’t get him on the bench.

“It wasn’t easy when you respect somebody and what a good player he is or has been. It was hard, because he’s still a good player.”