Redknapp Plots Audacious Double Raid to Underline Tottenham Title Credentials

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is reportedly preparing an ambitious double raid on Blackburn Rovers for star pair Christopher Samba and Junior Hoilett.

The Times claims high-flying Tottenham are willing to offer in excess of £15 million for the Ewood Park duo, in order to signify their intentions to maintain their credible Premier League title challenge which has clearly intensified in recent weeks.

Concerned at lack of depth in his squad that has been exasperated by recent injuries sustained by Sandro, William Gallas and to a less serious extent Scott Parker and Aaron Lennon, Redknapp is looking at a number of possible options that are available this month.

The Tottenham manager is believed to be monitoring Gary Cahill's protracted contract negotiations with Chelsea, but Andre Villas-Boas claimed the two parties were nearing a deal for the Bolton stalwart and Redknapp is subsequently exploring the possibility of bringing the towering Samba to White Hart Lane.

Samba's intention to play top level European football is well documented and the 27-year-old was strongly linked with Arsenal during the summer, and the aforementioned source intimates the Blackburn Rovers star would welcome a move to Tottenham at this juncture in his career.

The player is contracted to Blackburn for a further three-and-a-half years but his £60,000 a week wages means regardless of his talismanic presence for Steve Kean's side, the Congolese international is a strain on the club's financial resources. The Times claim Tottenham are willing to entice Rovers with a £10 million offer, but their interest in Blackburn Rovers' playing personnel does not end there.

The previously mentioned source claims Tottenham are willing to make a bid for Junior Hoilett, who has thus far illustrated a reluctance to sign a new deal, and that Blackburn may therefore be forced into selling one of their prized assets.

The Canadian is one of the brightest young prospects in the Premier League, who has also attracted the attentions of Liverpool and Arsenal, but he is out of contract in the summer and is therefore a free agent in June. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is keen to bring in fresh faces despite having the likes of Steven Pienaar and Niko Kranjcar in reserve.

Tottenham's recent form has suggested they pose a real threat to the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City, and Benoit Assou-Ekotto's recent comments highlighted the confidence around the club.

"Our minimum target is to finish in the top four. After that, anything is possible." The Tottenham fullback told London Evening Standard. "No one can predict what will happen over the next five months. We are no longer looking behind us at other teams' results.

"Instead, we are the ones getting the results and they are looking at us, hoping we slip up. You can see how much we have improved, even over the last 12 months.

"Just look at the table - we are in third place and we deserve to be there."

Tottenham are just three points behind United with a game in hand following the Red Devils' defeat to Newcastle. Spurs' next league match is against Everton at White Hart Lane on Wednesday 11.