Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp insists Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn was pleased with the approach for Kenwyne Jones that sparked a war of words between the clubs in January.
Redknapp was happy with the outcome of the transfer window because Robbie Keane became available - but at the time, Black Cats manager Ricky Sbragia was angered by Spurs' pursuit of Jones.
Spurs boss Redknapp claims Sunderland were also happy when the window shut because it proved they had £14million asset in Jones, while the Trinidad and Tobago striker earned himself a new four-and-a-half-year contract.
'I spoke to Niall and he said that he was quite pleased, to be honest,' Redknapp recalled. 'They probably used us as much we were interest in (Jones).
'Niall was quite pleased to go to his board and owners and say that "Tottenham want to pay this for Jones, we don't want to sell him, but it shows that we have some real assets here".
'He was pleased to do that - and Jones got a new contract.'
Spurs travel to Sunderland this weekend looking for the win that will take them into the top half of the Barclays Premier League - and it will be Keane leading their attack rather than Jones.
At the time of bidding for Jones, Redknapp did not feel he would have the chance to bring Keane back to White Hart Lane.
'I was always interested in Robbie, but never thought there was a chance of that,' he said.
'I gave the chairman a couple of strikers I was interested in, and he tried to see where there was a deal to be done with one of them.
'There wasn't a deal to be done with Kenwyne. Luckily enough, we got Robbie.'
After six unhappy months at Liverpool, Keane scored his first goal since his return during the 4-0 win over Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
'Robbie has character,' said Redknapp. 'We talk about managers, but I'm sure when Arsene Wenger went to Arsenal and he saw people like Tony Adams in the dressing room - he knew his job was going to be very easy.
'Basically, they do it for you. We get the credit and when it doesn't go right we get the grief. But if you've got good lads in your dressing room who want to win, they can sort it out for you.
'They'll tell people to get their finger out.'
Redknapp could have Ledley King fit at the Stadium of Light after resting his knee this week - and he will have to choose between Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini in goal.
With Jermain Defoe nine days from removing a protective boot on his foot and Alan Hutton also on the comeback trail, the Spurs boss could soon have a full squad to choose from.
One player picking himself at the moment is Luka Modric, who cost the north Londoners around £17million at the start of the season.
'I think it was a bargain,' said Redknapp. 'He could go and play anywhere. But we are looking to push Tottenham forward, and he won't want to go anywhere else.
'Alex Ferguson said to me after the game last week he changed how they played because of him. He said he took (John) O'Shea off and changed the system because Modric was causing so many problems.'
