Spurs keen on Forrest, confirms Redknapp

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed he is monitoring the progress of James Forrest but insists he is a long way off making any move for the Celtic winger.

Spurs chief scout Ian Broomfield watched the 20-year-old as Celtic were held to a 0-0 draw by Hibernian on Saturday.

Forrest, who netted two impressive goals against Hibs in the Scottish Communities League Cup three days earlier, hit the bar from long range and was exempted from criticism of his team by Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

Redknapp confirmed his interest but played down reports he was poised to launch a January offer for the Scotland international, who has scored ten goals in 44 first-team appearances.

Redknapp told BBC Scotland: “We have had good reports of what is obviously a good player. But he belongs to Celtic and that’s as far as it’s gone.

“It is just about having reports on people. You put them on the file and you keep looking.

“We haven’t gone any further. If we were to go any further, I would phone Neil and have a chat with him about the boy.

“It was just that Ian decided to have a look at him, but it was the first report on him really. Ian says he’s a talent. I haven’t seen the boy play. I have seen him on TV and bits and pieces, but I would want to see him in a couple of games if I was ever going to do anything. I wouldn’t sign anyone without seeing him myself.”

Redknapp added: “I remember the Jimmy Johnstones and Willie Hendersons – all the great wingers that you produced up there over the years and hopefully this kid will be another young winger coming through. Every good team in England had three or four top players in Scotland in it, but in the last few years that’s changed an awful lot.”