Southgate's too much as Hammers draw

Harry Redknapp flew to Spain yesterday hoping he could invest some of the £18million he received from Leeds for Rio Ferdinand in at least one transfer deal. But the player he would most like to bring in and who would not say no to a move to Upton Park was before his very eyes on Saturday. Gareth Southgate, captain of Aston Villa, is a central defender who could replace the multi-talented Ferdinand.

'He's a great player,' acknowledged Redknapp after the 1-1 draw, 'and I'd love Gareth here. The only trouble is that Villa want £10m and I don't think I would be allowed to spend that much on a 30-year-old. But if I could, I would.' Southgate, for his part, would relish a move back to London because he regretfully accepts that Villa are unlikely to come up with the investment necessary for them to remain a front-line club.

He said: 'I am still ambitious to play at the very highest level but I don't think I will be going anywhere. Villa want £10m for me and most clubs only want to pay that for a striker.' Villa matched West Ham's passing and movement and showed how difficult they are to break down, even with the electrifying Frederic Kanoute in extravagant form. The Hammers should have won after Michael Carrick put them ahead but they were defending too deeply when Lee Hendrie scored the equaliser.

Kaba Diawara and Paolo Di Canio missed the chances and could have put the match beyond Villa. Carrick's first goal of the season had underlined the growing potential of this 19-year-old midfielder, who appears destined to play for England and has been likened by Redknapp to former West Ham hero Trevor Brooking.

These are exciting times for West Ham. They are only four points off third place in the Premiership, and besides the talent of Carrick, they cannot wait to welcome back Joe Cole and Frank Lampard from injury and have the highly promising Adam Newton and Jermaine Defoe waiting in the wings.

No wonder Redknapp is upbeat about the future.