Others half-asleep when Spurs make right move

Harry Redknapp and Tottenham deserve full credit for bringing Rafael van der Vaart to White Hart Lane in the very last minutes of the summer transfer window.

Financially, Spurs didn't even have to spend £10m for the experienced player they really need, as their manager stated after the international friendly against Fiorentina. The Dutch playmaker has many international and European games under his belt for teams demanding high performance, results and style: Ajax, HSV, Real Madrid and the Netherlands. Therefore it's strange to see comments asking whether Spurs required this sort of footballer. If the club from North London wants to continue their adventure with the Champions' League beyond the group stage, van der Vaart will definitely make them a step closer.

It's also worth noting that van der Vaart's transfer to England wouldn't have happened if the deal with Bayern Munich didn't fall through. If it's true that the Germans were willing to pay £16m, then it shows how Real was desperate to offload their player - even for £10m less! Also, there was a reported Arsenal interest in the player. The Dutchman would fit perfectly into the Gunners' sophisticated style of football and I can only wonder why Arsène Wenger did not move more dynamically for him. It would ease pressure on Cesc Fábregas in central midfield and wouldn't hurt Arsenal' strict expenses.

Van der Vaart should also immediately find himself in the pacey Premier League. Unlike Luka Modrić, the Dutchman has the experience to utilise his skills without a delayed transition period. He may not be a physical player, yet I see him adopting to the English football, Zola-esque style. This comparison to one of Chelsea's legends is actually intended. I was calling for van der Vaart's transfer to Chelsea two years ago when it became obvious he is unsettled in Hamburg. This summer, however, advocating the move is even more relevant. Chelsea decided to go for Ramires, another box-to-box type player with a similar physical abilities yet only a year of European experience and no record of playing outside a Portuguese-speaking country. Not entirely convinced with the Brazilian's resume and his transfer value, I will leave the question open whether Chelsea or Tottenham made a better deal this summer.

Finally, returning to Spurs' domestic issues, is the arrival of van der Vaart enough to challenge the UCL? The transfer may bring a sparkle of optimism to the Tottenham camp but pending defence problems have not been addressed by Redknapp. The way how Young Boys exposed Spurs' doggy back will remain an inspiration for Internazionale, Werder and Twente ahead of their games against the North London club.