Page "Niko Kranjčar" Paragraph 8

On 1 September 2009, Kranjčar joined Tottenham Hotspur from Portsmouth after the two clubs agreed a transfer fee of around £ 2. 5 million, although the actual price was undisclosed.

The deal was completed just before the transfer deadline passed with him signing a four-year contract.

It was reported that Everton had made a late bid to sign Kranjčar, but the player opted to sign for Spurs, stating that: " Everton is also a big club but, in the end, the tradition and greatness of Tottenham made the difference.

I also knew manager Harry Redknapp, and Luka Modrić and Vedran Ćorluka told me great things about the club ".

Kranjčar made his debut for Tottenham as a substitute in the 3 – 1 defeat to Manchester United at home.

On 26 September 2009, Kranjčar made his first Premier League start for Tottenham in a 5 – 0 home thrashing of Burnley.

He scored his first goal for the club in a Premier League match away to Bolton Wanderers on 4 October 2009.

On 22 November 2009, Kranjčar scored for Tottenham in a 9 – 1 home thrashing of Wigan Athletic, with Jermain Defoe scoring a record equalling five.

On 16 December 2009, Kranjčar grabbed a brace in a 3 – 0 home victory over Manchester City.

On 20 March 2010, Kranjčar scored the winning goal in a 1 – 2 away victory over Stoke City.

Kranjčar has found difficulty being chosen in starting line-ups, due to the rise in prominence of Gareth Bale, who also plays in his position.

Whilst Bale has been out injured, Tottenham started with Kranjčar in two back-to-back matches and he scored the winner in both, against Bolton Wanderers in a 2 – 1 victory at White Hart Lane, and away to Sunderland in another 2 – 1 victory.

In the beginning of the 2011 – 12 season, Kranjčar scored an 35 yard-goal during a pre-season friendly, a 5 – 3 win against Milton Keynes Dons.