• Premier League

AVB reveals Spurs' Damiao near miss

Leandro Damiao remains a target for Tottenham © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Dembele warns Spurs not to falter
  
• News: AVB disappointed at Willian's sideways move
  
• News: Holtby will not be rushed into starting role
  

Manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed Tottenham came close to sealing a deadline-day deal to sign Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, before insisting his club will not be held to ransom over inflated fees and wages.

Villas-Boas conceded he would have welcomed the arrival of a new striker to back up the options of Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor, but he has moved to quell the concerns of Spurs fans frustrated by the club's failure to sign a hit-man.

"We have approached this market sensibly and said that if it was going to go out of proportion (fees and wages), we would step out of it," Villas-Boas said. "We told you he was a player we chased, but we couldn't agree on the full conditions, so we have moved on.

"The fans' concerns for this situation are due by opinion making and expectation. It is a rollercoaster for them. If this window was not open and you are sitting in fourth position, you are pretty comfortable, but we are where we stand. We sounded the market for different possibilities as we have found comfort in a 4-4-2 formation and we only have two strikers, but it didn't happen."

Villas-Boas confirmed that leading scorer Jermain Defoe suffered no reaction from his injury after making his return in the 1-1 draw with Norwich and is fit to start Sunday's game against West Browmich Albion, while he also suggesting young striker Harry Kane could play a part in the remainder of Tottenham's season after his loan spell at Carrow Road was cut short.

"It was in the interests of the player and the team," he added of Kane. "Norwich didn't have the necessity to hold onto him and it is good for us to have another striking option."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.