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Harry Redknapp is planning a sensational move for Jermain Defoe to shoot Queens Park Rangers straight back into the Premier League.

QPR manager Redknapp will try to persuade the Spurs and England striker to drop down into the Championship as the star of his new-look attack.

Redknapp, whose side kick off their Championship season at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, said: “I am going to put together a team that will excite people.

“I am trying to bring players in who will blow people’s minds. I have got the backing of the board to do that, and we are moving on from last season.”

Redknapp could face competition, however, from his Loftus Road predecessor Mark Hughes, who has been linked with an attempt to take Defoe to new employers Stoke.

Defoe looked razor-sharp last weekend, scoring a hat-trick as the White Hart Lane club raced to a 6-0 win over South China in the Asia Trophy.

Despite carrying an injury in the second half of last season, he still ended the campaign with 15 goals.

As we reported earlier this week, Defoe is now fully fit, having cut short his summer holiday to work with fitness guru Tiberius Darau in France.

Yet he is still set to find himself on the bench this season, with Spurs smashing their transfer record this week to buy Valencia and Spain striker Roberto Soldado for £26million as they strengthen to try to force their way back into the Champions League.

Defoe, who still has designs on going to the World Cup with England, has two years left on his £65,000-a-week contract.

Redknapp, who has worked with Defoe at West Ham, Portsmouth and Spurs, has launched his audacious bid for a reunion after buying Burnley striker Charlie Austin but losing out to Norwich for Celtic forward Gary Hooper.