Betting tips / Hannah Duncan / 02 February 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Given the slightly odd choices Tottenham have made, Hannah Duncan ponders whether the Spurs busy transfer season will help or hinder their Premier League chances.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was once again at the heart of financial dealings as a late flurry of transfer activity swept through White Hart Lane on deadline day.

The small matter of their Premier League encounter with Wigan didn't appear to get in the way of Redknapp's apparent need to bolster his squad ahead of their potentially title-chasing run-in, as no fewer than six senior players made their way through the door, in one direction or another.

Sebastien Bassong, Vedran Corluka, Steven Pienaar and Roman Pavlyuchenko all made way. The first three went out on loan to the end of the season, to Wolves, Bayer Leverkusen and Everton respectively, all of which meant a few gaps needed to be filled at White Hart Lane.

And the incoming personnel may have come as a surprise to one or two Spurs fans.

In to replace Bassong is Blackburn Rovers veteran defender Ryan Nelsen. Although a solid defender with seven years of Premier League experience behind him, the 34-year-old's arrival at Tottenham is an intriguing one to say the least. In Ledley king, Harry Redknapp already boasts the most injury-prone player on the footballing circuit, but Nelsen has had his own problems this season, as the New Zealander has only managed one Premier League appearance for Rovers after struggling with a knee injury.

But Nelsen wasn't the only surprise arrival at White Hart Lane yesterday, with the long out-of-favour Pavlyuchenko being replaced by Everton's Louis Saha in a deal which saw Steven Pienaar return to his former Merseyside employers on loan until the end of the season.

It's potentially a sensible move for Everton, who have struggled in midfield since the departures of Pienaar and Mikel Arteta over the last 12 months. And with the arrival of Rangers forward Nikica Jelavic, they were enabled to let Saha depart without too much concern.

But Saha, while undoubtedly a natural finisher, has also had his share of injury problems during his time at Goodison Park, and at 33-years-old is unlikely to see a major turnaround in his fortunes. However, if he can get fit and stay fit, he could prove a vital cog in Tottenham's wheel for the remainder of the season, with his movement and experience likely to complement the pace and vision of Gareth Bale, who has been nothing short of sensational of late. The Welshman is currently [7.2] on Betfair to be named the PFA Player of the Year for this campaign, behind only Joe Hart, Robin Van Persie and David Silva.

Bale added another two goals to his season's tally in Tottenham's 3-1 win over strugglers Wigan, [1.82] favourites to finish rock bottom of the Premier League, which helped move Spurs just five points off pace-setters Manchester City - themselves the victims of a 1-0 defeat by Everton.

While Roberto Mancini's side are still [1.79] favourites to be crowned Champions this season, Tottenham must be considered a threat, as the weeks wear on and are at [15.5] on Betfair to win the league thelselves.

Pundits, armchair fans and everyone in between have been saying on loop that Redknapp's men won't go the distance, that their squad hasn't got the necessary depth for a serious title charge and that they don't have the experience of Manchester United or Chelsea. Yet they keep defying the odds and getting the wins to keep them in contention. In Louis Saha, they have signed a former two-time title winner, while William Gallas has won the league previously with Chelsea and the likes of Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric have league titles to their name from elsewhere in Europe.

As a Chelsea supporter it disgusts me to say this, but write off Tottenham at your peril. Harry Redknapp's side could well be the genuine thing.