Tottenham Hotspur’s first foray into the transfer market has hardly been the blockbuster signing may fans hoped for. However, Redknapp’s purchase of a couple of Kyles provides some fresh insight into his plans for the club, on and off the pitch.

Messrs Walker and Naughton caught my eye when I watched Sheffield United a few times at the end of last season. Both are agile and pacy, early days but very much in the modern mould of the multi-skilled full-back who uses speed and timing as defensive weapons, rather than the traditional attributes like hard tackling. Those talents are essential in attack too, plus a good cross comes in handy.

Having overcome Jol’s fixation on collecting centre-midfielders, Redknapp is apparently compelled to stockpile right backs. Although both these boys are for the future – Walker is being loaned back to the Blades to continue his footballing education – this deal is part of Harry’s wider plans to rebuild the squad.

We have a number of right backs but actually they are different types of player. Corluka, who I rate extremely highly, is excellent defensively but less dynamic going forward. Centre half could be his eventual home.

Hutton looks strong in both departments. In his first game back at the end of last season as a sub, he signalled his arrival with a superb fast swerving cross, a reminder of what we had been sorely missing for most of last season. But word is that Hutton has a bit of a problem off the field, maybe likes a drop or two and can’t take it, so he’s being touted around.

Chimbonda was bought in different times, to cover a defensive problem that never materialised as Woody and King stayed fit and BAE grew into a class act.

Full backs are crucial to tactics that succeed in the Premiership. Lying deep, they can see openings ahead of them and utilise that precious space, providing they are sufficiently swift and aware. I retain high hopes for Bale in just such a role, but he needs to work on the defensive aspects of his game.

Naughton therefore gives us the attacking full back option, one that Harry wants to develop, although in my view every effort should be made to keep Hutton. At Portsmouth, Redknapp out of necessity went for a different option at first, as did O’Neill at Villa. Both constrained by budgets, they deployed centre halves at full back. They stayed back, did not come out of position and provided a platform for the midfield and attackers to move up. When an alternative became available in the shape of Glen Johnson, Redknapp changed style, allowing him to advance frequently. The arrival of the Kyles may well signal his preference for this formation, or at least have that option available, depending on how attack minded our opponents allow us to be.

One casualty is another more defensive minded player, Chris Gunther. A shame: he looked promising. We did not need the cash to complete the Kyle deal. Rather, he is an example of a player who we might have happily kept but who is expendable if Harry believes he can do better. The same applies to several other squad members. Expect more deals where we sell only when the replacement has been sorted.

He is also a victim of our excessive turnover of managers. Each has been given Levy’s full backing, each has their own idea of which players they want, especially risky in the business of spotting young talent. Gunther, Taarabt, Gio, perhaps Bale: Harry does not value the potential in which previous managers invested. Possibly a waste of talent, certainly a waste of money. These are the hidden costs of the constant regime changes,

Levy must shoulder full responsibility, but he can be a shrewd dealmaker. The reputed £8m is a fortune for two young unproven players but in years to come it may be seen as a wise investment. In the here and now, we are not going to pay it all in a single lump sum. Also, we have two assets not possessed by our bidding rivals Everton – cash and squad players. Levy used both as levers, cash upfront and a promise that Sheffield can take players on loan this season to seal the deal. Nice work, and,  as I said last time, a lot of money and some risk, but what Harry wants, Harry gets.

It’s Tottenham Hotspur, it’s the transfer window and at Spurs that can mean only one thing – mayhem.

The Spurs fanzine My Eyes Have Seen the Glory keeps track of the rumours (http://archive.mehstg.com/targets_aug09.htm) and calculates that so far the media have linked us with 117 different players – and that was last Tuesday. So far, however, the outcome has been a distinct lack of signings. Faced with such temptation so openly on offer, many fans are as frustrated as an acne-ridden adolescent going home alone at the end of School Disco. This window, however, will be different, because it’s Redknapp who has his master on a leash.

Could. It’s an unassuming, inoffensive little word, at times gently uplifting even, connoting what is possible. However, in the hands of tabloid hacks it becomes tragically abused, rendered utterly meaningless when used in the phrase, ‘Spurs could be interested in…’ TOMM exclusive! Spurs could be interested in Carl Rook, Tonbridge Angels striker, a prolific goalscorer and target man in last season’s Ryman League. Or Lionel Messi. Or Peter Crouch. It’s true, they could be, but it doesn’t mean they are. I’m disappointed that the Plain English Society have not followed the example of the NSPCC and instituted a ‘Full Stop Now’ campaign.

In such uncertain times, many seek consolation in the comments of our manager. However, there’s scant solace to be found here, because Harry lies. He lies all the time. I’m not complaining: all good negotiators carefully guard their true intentions and Redknapp is an excellent negotiator.

When he says, for example, that he won’t necessarily buy anyone or that we have to sell before we buy, to my mind this is simply not accurate. Of course we have money and of course this squad is not good enough to mount a sustained challenge for honours next season. The only time Redknapp will reveal his actual plans, until a signing is made that is, is when he wishes to unsettle a player in preparation for the move, as he has done today in stating that Crouch is a target.

So don’t believe either the media or the manager. The real problem for Spurs fans is that we have history. Daniel Levy is the self-styled dealmaker extraordinary, biding his time, keeping his cards close to his chest and waiting until the last possible moment to extract the very best price. This worked well for a time, most notably with the original purchases of Keane and Lennon. Berbatov was more expensive but also fantastic value.

However, the tactic is far less effective when the competition for a player is more intense or the club itself is stronger. Brought to their knees by crippling financial woes, Leeds were ripe for exploitation, but dealing as we were this time last year with the gangster Russian billionaires at Zenit was a totally different matter. Everyone at Spurs thought Arshavin just had to put pen to paper. The Russians then asked for more at the last second. Levy looked them in the eyes and they just stared straight back.

Similarly, with no signings, in the last few days of the last summer window we frantically offered inflated sums for Heskey, Ashton, any big centre forward, but ended up with a Manchester United reserve.

This time, things will be different. When Redknapp took over, part of the deal was that total control of transfers rested with the manager. After successive fiascos with Arnesen and Commolli, Levy was only too willing to wash his hands of the whole dirty business. Stick to the money, that’s what he knows about and what he does well. Levy is now Redknapp’s poodle. What Harry wants, Harry gets. If Redknapp seriously wants a player, Levy dare not procrastinate.

So that’s where we will all find our relief. Harry will sort us something decent out, and anyway Daniel, what’s a few million either way?