Published: 10 January, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

SPURS will be hoping to fire a hole in QPR’s mini-revival on Saturday when they travel to Loftus Road to face former manager Harry Redknapp.

With Tottenham seeking to firm up third place in the league boss Andre Villas-Boas faces a selection headache after Emmanuel Adebayor joined up with the Togo squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
American midfielder Clint Dempsey is expected to step into an attacking role alongside Jermain Defoe, who is the only out and out striker available.

Adebayor’s departure has led to a rash of transfer window rumours, one of which being that Spurs are trying to finalise the deal for long-term target Leandro Damiao. The Brazilian forward’s club, Internacional, have completed their domestic season but the deal would need chairman Daniel Levy to unravel a complicated structure of the player’s contract.

Former midfield ace Luka Modric’s torrid time at Real Madrid has prompted speculation he could return to the Premiership at Chelsea or Manchester United. But it is believed Spurs inserted a “first refusal” clause into the deal, meaning the Croatian could find himself back at White Hart Lane.

One deal already done saw defender Zeki Fryers join the club, while German under-21s captain Lewis Holtby isn’t far behind. Spurs, however, have seemingly ended interest in Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.