Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Manchester United Match Preview

Tottenham have completed the signing of Gilberto from Hertha Berlin on a busy deadline day when Jermain Defoe agreed to join Portsmouth. Gilberto, the Brazil left-back who can operate in midfield, was at Spurs' training ground to complete the transfer and joins Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Hutton and Chris Gunter as Juande Ramos' transfer-window recruits.

The player was out of contract at the end of the season and Hertha had released a statement insisting he would be staying in the Bundesliga, with some reports suggesting complications with his medical. Spurs, however, have announced the deal going through, with the 31-year-old providing cover at left-back following long-term injuries to Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Spurs have also agreed to sell Defoe to Portsmouth, though the deal has yet to be officially completed. The 25-year-old striker was out of contract at Spurs at the end of next season and has been linked with a move while negotiations have been unresolved. He also struggled for regular opportunities under head coach Ramos, with the Spaniard preferring Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov in attack for important matches.

Ramos and Defoe fell out after a training ground incident at the start of the month but then patched up their relationship, and the striker had talked about signing a new deal. However, his lack of action has alerted other Barclays Premier League clubs. Pompey boss Harry Redknapp, who worked with Defoe at West Ham, was monitoring the striker's situation in the summer but no deal was agreed.

With Defoe starting just three Premier League matches this season, Redknapp made his move and a fee was agreed earlier on deadline day. ``I can't wait to be honest, I just want to get my boots on,'' said Defoe on Sky Sports News. ``At the end of the day I haven't been playing football, hopefully I can play football here. I just want to score goals.'' Redknapp added: ``He will be a great signing for us.

``He wants to play and he needs to play.'' Ramos has allowed Defoe and fringe players such as Hossam Ghaly and Wayne Routledge to leave White Hart Lane in his first January transfer window as head coach at Spurs. Paul Stalteri and Anthony Gardner have also gone out on loan, to Fulham and Everton respectively. Gunter has been given first-team chances already, and Woodgate made his debut on Wednesday. He was also called up for Fabio Capello's first England squad.

``He has had a great year for Middlesbrough and he had a great debut for Tottenham,'' said Spurs team-mate Tom Huddlestone. ``He has only trained with us once but he has a lot of experience. ``He was constantly talking throughout the game so for me, who does not play centre-back very often, it was very reassuring.'' Hutton, meanwhile, has revealed Ramos' role in signing him from Rangers for £8million.

``What influenced my decision was a lot to do with coming down and meeting the head coach and hearing his plans for the club,'' Hutton said. ``That helped me make up my mind. ``Leaving Rangers was a decision I had to take time to think about and it was hard for me having grown up supporting the club as well as playing for them for many years.

It was a hard decision but I think it's the right one overall. ``The Premier League is one of the best in the world and everybody knows that, so I think you have to take the step down here to show people what you've got. I think I've got good attributes in terms of getting forward and hopefully I can add them to the team.''