‘Brazilian Flair’ or ‘The Irish Wizard’ – Harry’s left-field dilemma?

FFC Transfer Tavern looks at
the left wing dilemma facing Harry Redknapp.

Spurs
manager Harry Redknapp's eagerness to recruit a left-winger at White Hart Lane
this summer has been well documented. Stewart Downing at Middlesbrough top of
Harry's list before getting crocked late in the season. So The Transfer Tavern
have decided to take a look at two other lefties that have also appeared on the
Redknapp radar, with Tottenham expected to swoop for an alternative. 

The two
players in question are Republic of Ireland trickster Aiden McGeady and
Brazilian free-kick specialist Michel Bastos at Ligue 1 oufit Lille. Both good
players in their own right as you will see. But which one if either should
Redknapp try and lure to the Premier League instead of Downing? 

First we
have McGeady, who at 23 is the younger of the two. A product of the youth
system at the ‘Old Firm' side, McGeady made his senior debut for The Bhoys in
2004 and has scored 24 goals in 144 SPL appearances for Celtic. However, the
tricky winger dubbed ‘The Irish Wonderboy' has yet to score in his 25 caps for
Ireland. 

Under
contract at Celtic Park until the summer of 2013 the Irishman is valued in the
region of £7million and has performed well in the Champions League for the SPL
giants. It understood that the winger, who can play as a second striker would
not find it hard to make the transition to the Premiership. 

So as you
can see a tricky winger, who can beat people and chip in with goals and should
Celtic be willing to sell. Would be available at a reasonable price in this day
and age. 

Next is
25-year-old Bastos at Lille, who has attracted the attention of a plethora of
clubs from around Europe, with his performances for the French side since
joining from Brazilian club Paranaense in 2006. 

23 goals
in 88 Ligue 1 appearances during his time at the Stadium Lille- Metropole,
Bastos has gained a reputation in France as a free-kick specialist. The
Brazilian enjoying his second spell in Europe a lot more than his first, when
Bastos spent two-years in Holland at the start of his career playing 28 games
for Excelsior after failing to break through into the senior side at Feyenoord. 

Under
contract at LOSC until the summer of 2013, Bastos would be a slightly more
expensive option for Spurs, with the winger likely to leave Lille this summer
for a fee in excess of £10million. Given the wealth of talent there is in
Brazil, Bastos has yet to represent his country at any level. 

As you
have just seen the Brazilian has quite a shot on him and has a reputation for
being deadly from the penalty spot as well as free-kicks. But is he a better
option than the cheaper McGeady to fill the left wing at White Hart Lane?
‘Brazilian Flair' or ‘The Irish Wonderboy', who would be the better acquisition
for Redknapp? 

Brazilian
Flair (Bastos – £10m) or

The Irish
Wonderboy (McGeady – £7m)