Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe has been told by Spurs manager Juande Ramos that he is free to leave the club, but the striker is determined to prove the Spaniard wrong and earn a new contract at White Hart Lane.

The England international has been handed just two Premier League starts so far this season, and despite scoring four goals during the opportunities he has been given to impress, Ramos has deemed him surplus to requirements.

The player himself, though, has indicated that he has no intention of looking for a move and will instead do everything possible to win over his boss and earn himself a new deal at the club he loves.

"The manager has said I can leave if I want, but I want to prove him wrong. I want to stay here," the striker said.

"He called me into his office and told me. At first I thought it was a joke, I thought he was going to say I would be starting against Arsenal in the Carling Cup (on Wednesday) which was why he didn't give me a game against Reading (in the FA Cup) at the weekend.

"But he just said 'You can leave if you want to'. Yet I have no intentions of leaving this club because I love it here.

"I would love to sign a new contract, and I know people at the top of the club want me to stay.

"But no-one can expect me to sign a new deal if I can't get a game."

Defoe added: "I train hard, I put plenty of time in the gym and I do power work. I prepare for every game as though I'm going to play, which is obviously the professional thing, and then I don't get a game.

"It's as though I'm doing all of this for nothing. But I have still been taken aback.

"It's as though I am being punished for doing well. But I want to prove everyone wrong. I don't want to go anywhere.

"I just want to get back into the team and then I will be desperate to sign a new contract.

"I have no desire to play for any club other than Spurs."