Andre Villas-Boas likely to join Tottenham this week

The Portuguese is now contractually free to take up another job in England, after being sacked by Chelsea in March, and has been in advanced negotiations with Spurs for the past week.

No deal has been agreed but it is expected that a three-year contract will be quickly finalised ahead of an announcement, probably on Tuesday, with Spurs also hopeful of then confirming the signings of defender Jan Vertonghen for £9.5 million from Ajax and the 22-year-old Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was on loan to Swansea City last season, for £8 million.

There is also strong interest from Spurs in the highly-rated 20-year-old Brazilian playmaker Oscar who already has six senior caps and has attracted interest across Europe. His club, Internacional, have close ties with Spurs, who signed Sandro from them, although there is competition to acquire the attacking midfielder who may be regarded as an eventual replacement for Rafael Van der Vaart.

Spurs remain braced for offers for midfielder Luka Modric, who is set to hand in a transfer request, but Real Madrid have cooled their interest.  (telegraph.co.uk)