Total football: Bright future lures Pienaar to Spurs

While Darren Bent's controversial move from Sunderland to Aston Villa generated the headlines this week, Steven Pienaar's transfer from Everton to Tottenham went largely ignored despite it heralding a potentially significant shift in power in the capital.

Significant because Pienaar turned down a move to current champions Chelsea, preferring to ply his trade with their North London rivals where he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract for a reported £2.5 million.

Everton had understanably wanted to cash in on the player to avoid losing him for free when his contract expired at the end of the season. Pienaar had already turned down a new deal at Everton last year.

Reports, however, had put Chelsea as the frontrunners for the Bafana Bafana midfielder, so it came as no little surprise that the player himself had opted for Spurs.

The ins and outs of contract negotiations will never be known, of course, but the wages offered by both clubs seemingly were in the same ballpark — around £70,000 a week — so it must be assumed Pienaar saw a brighter future at White Hart Lane than at Stamford Bridge.

If this is the case then Chelsea fans should be worried. There was a time the Blues landed every fish they sought, baited by the roubles on offer by owner Roman Ambramovich.

However, these are changing times on the King's Road with the honey pot seemingly dry for the time being and an ageing squad that has started to creak alarmingly this term.

Exciting squad

Tottenham, on the other hand, are assembling one of the most exciting squads in the Premiership built around the mercurial talents of Luka Modric, Rafael Van der Vaart and their Welsh wonder Gareth Bale.

Having watched some of their high-octane performances this season it's perhaps understandable to see why the 28-year-old saw a rosier future north of the Thames.

The only problem the South African may find is forcing his way into a midfield which is already packed with attacking talent, but Harry Redknapp must be applauded for adding another string to Tottenham's rapidly expanding bow.

All the talk last week had been of Harry luring The Toffees' Phil Neville to White Hart Lane and one now wonders if this had just been a smokescreen as they lined up their real target.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have been robbed of a genuine talent and someone who could have provided some much-needed attacking drive to a team that has lost its spark of late.

I've made no bones that Chelsea need significant rebuilding in the future if they are to maintain their pedigree as genuine contenders.

It would seem their January endeavours have come to nothing and there will have to be a significant loosening of the purse strings in the summer if the Blues are to maintain their position as the destination of choice in London.