Brendan Rodgers says Tottenham speculation is 'disrespectful' to Harry Redknapp

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers: 'I think we are absolutely fantastic and statistically we're up with best in Europe' (Getty Images)

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has branded speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham as "disrespectful" to Harry Redknapp.

Rodgers, 39, has won plenty of plaudits for guiding Swansea into the top half of the Barclays Premier League table with an attractive possession style of play.

The performances of the south Wales club, which have included outstanding home wins over Arsenal and Manchester City, have led to the Northern Irishman, who signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract last month, being linked with moves to Spurs and Chelsea.

Reports in two national newspapers this morning suggested that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is eyeing Rodgers as a potential replacement should Redknapp take over as full-time England manager.

But Rodgers was quick to re-iterate his commitment to Swansea and said any talk of someone replacing Redknapp while the former Portsmouth, West Ham and Southampton boss is still in the job was unfair.

He said: "People need to fill pages in papers and they need discussion points.

"But my only focus is Swansea and Harry's only focus will be Tottenham and I just think it's disrespectful talking about him and the job he is in.

"He loves being at Tottenham and I know from talking to him when he was here in December that he enjoys being there.

"Likewise with myself, my only concentration and focus is on this job and trying to retain our status over the next eight games in this league."

He added: "It's part of British football, speculation, gossip, whatever you want to call it.

"When these reports come out you take them as they are, it fills a bit of a paper, people read it and it will probably be someone else tomorrow.

"Harry is Tottenham manager, he is clearly a candidate for the England job but at this moment he is Tottenham manager and to speculate about him coming out of there and someone going in while he is in a job, I don't think it's proper."

The timing of the speculation is particularly pertinent as Swansea travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Defeat at home to Everton last weekend ended a run of three wins, but Swansea will head to London buoyed by the 1-1 draw they secured with Spurs on New Year's Eve.

Redknapp's men were arguably the division's form side at the time, and Swansea's display that day has proved the catalyst for an excellent run since Christmas.

Rodgers, who has winger Nathan Dyer back from suspension, said: "White Hart Lane is a very difficult place to go for sure but we go there with great motivation and confidence.

"We have won three of our last four games, March has been a terrific month for us, and we were given the ultimate accolade last week when we lost.

"David Moyes, a manager who I have a lot of respect for, said it was a massive win for Everton, so the reflection on that shows the job our players have done, that a club with a history like that and a manager like that talked about it being a massive win.

"We are satisfied and we want to keep working well and keep getting results which is the most important thing."

PA