Harry Redknapp would be willing to scrap his move for David Beckham if the Los Angeles Galaxy continue to demand the midfielder returns to the United States by mid-February. Beckham started a month-long training spell at the north London club on Monday and is still hopeful he will turn out in a Tottenham Hotspur shirt.

The Galaxy start the new MLS season on 15 March but want their star man back in LA shortly after his training spell with the club is scheduled to end on 10 February. Beckham is two weeks away from match fitness and would therefore only be able to play three matches if he had to return to LA after that date. Redknapp would also have to discard one member of his 25-man squad to accommodate the midfielder if he intends to play him after 31 January.

The Spurs manager sounded pessimistic about his chances of landing the former England captain yesterday, and admitted he started negotiations with the Galaxy hoping to agree a loan until the end of the Premier League season.

By the time he's fit, just to throw him in for three or four games would be difficult. 
Harry Redknapp, Tottenham Hotspur manager

"If it was only until 10 February that would only be a month," said Redknapp, whose side take on leaders Manchester United at White Hart Lane tomorrow. "To do that would be a waste of time because, by the time David got fit, it would be a couple of weeks and suddenly you'd be into February.

"I would have liked him to play, if he could have come to the end of the season it would have been great. I didn't know it was only going to be two months at best. When it was mentioned, I thought 'yeah, to the end of the season it would be good'. Then, suddenly two months becomes a month, and only if we got permission. By the time he's fit, just to throw him in for three or four games would be difficult."

The first move of what is expected to be a busy transfer window for Redknapp started on Wednesday when David Bentley joined Birmingham City on loan until the end of the season. Striker Robbie Keane could join the midfielder at St Andrew's with the Republic of Ireland hitman wanting to leave after finding himself well down the pecking order this term.

Redknapp could use the money from Keane's transfer to fund his long-term pursuit of Everton midfielder Stephen Pienaar. The Blues have accepted a bid for the South African, whose contract runs out at the end of the season.

Redknapp admits Pienaar represents good value for money at his current asking price but thinks the 28-year-old is destined for Stamford Bridge. "I think he might go to Chelsea," he said. "I think he is a good player. He can play left or right or down the middle. I like him. I would not be urging the chairman. I would not want to be putting the chairman under any pressure to buy him, but at £2 million or £3 million he's certainly not dear is he. Would they sell him for that? I don't know."