Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing a £15 million bid for Brazil and Sport Club Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, with Togolese talisman Emmanuel Adebayor set to take part in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, The Telegraph understands.
Damiao, 23, has been a long-time transfer target of Spurs, who also completed a move for FC Schalke 04 No. 10 Lewis Holtby earlier this week.
Holtby, a Germany international, was subject to heavy interest interest from English Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool, but the Gunners’ bitter north London rivals were ultimately able to ink the player’s signature.
Now then, back to Damiao. The big, physical Brazilian striker has 14 international caps to his name, having bagged two goals for the Seleção.
Furthermore, the 23-year-old represented Brazil at the 2012 London Olympics, where he was the leading-scorer with six goals in five matches.
Tottenham have already approached Sport Club Internacional regarding Damiao, with the Brazilian outfit having rejected more than one Spurs offer for the player, according to reports.
Earlier this week, Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas confirmed the club’s rumoured interest in Brazilian duo Leandro Damiao and Willian of Shakhtar Donetsk.
“We got in touch with Willian [in the summer] and he is one of the players that interests us,” Villas-Boas told the Daily Mirror.
“I like his style, but we could not reach the value Shakhtar were asking. It does not mean we won’t try again. Shakhtar are a difficult club to negotiate with as they do not need the money and can keep their players.
“For Damião, he had a spectacular Olympics. We follow the best players and youngsters. Leandro fits this profile. He has had injuries after London 2012, but he is a player that is always on our list.”
David Villa wants Arsenal move
FC Barcelona forward David Villa would welcome a move to the Emirates Stadium amid reports that the Catalan club would accept a £16 million transfer fee for his services, according to the Daily Mail.
Villa, 31, has been kept of Barcelona’s first-team by Spanish compatriot Pedro, who bagged a first-half brace in the club’s 4-0 win over Espanyol at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Both Villa and Alexis Sanchez have found playing time hard to come by this season, with Pedro and youngster Cristian Tello getting most of the spoils.
Villa has tallied eight goals in 20 competitive appearances for Barca in 2012-13, while Alexis has netted just one goal in 19 matches.
According to reports, Arsene Wenger has about £70 million to spend this month. Should the Frenchman spend 22.9% of his bankroll on 31-year-old Spain striker David Villa?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!