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Nelsen eyeing Defoe MLS move

Nelson and Defoe were team-mates at Tottenham © Getty Images

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Former Tottenham defender Ryan Nelsen, now in charge of MLS side Toronto, has made Jermain Defoe his No. 1 target.

Nelsen has just completed his first season in charge of the Canadian team and is looking at prospective signings as he looks to improve on a disappointing campaign that saw Toronto finish second-bottom in the Eastern Conference table.

"To get a guy like Defoe, one of the most natural goalscorers I have ever come across, for the MLS… I cannot think of many that are more suited," Nelsen said.

"It would be incredible. I call him and text him all the time. Him playing in Toronto would be phenomenal.

"If you look around the world and try and think of a realistic player - and I am not sure how realistic he is - that complements a league like ours, never gets injured, doesn't drink, can play high, low, scores all sorts of goals.

"I think if you ask most Premier League teams, they would take Defoe. [He is] always out training, always trying to score, a great guy."

Tottenham, meanwhile, are monitoring Burnley striker Danny Ings, according to the Daily Mail. The 21-year-old has already scored 13 goals for the Championship leaders this season.

Elsewhere, Etienne Capoue has returned to full training following two months out with an ankle problem and could return in the League Cup match against Hull on Wednesday. The France international was part of Andre Villas-Boas' £110 million summer transfer haul, but picked up the injury against Arsenal on September 1.

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