Tottenham Hotspur have failed in their deadline day bid for Internacional striker Leandro Damião, although a deal could be resurrected in the summer, according to the
guardian. Manager Andre Villas-Boas identified the Brazilian as his number one transfer target this month and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy told him after Wednesday's disappointing 1-1 draw at Norwich City that he would do everything within his powers to make the deal happen. Spurs are believed to have a good working relationship with Internacional - they signed midfielder Sandro from them in 2010, and talks did take place over Damião, with Levy making an official offer for the striker. Sources in Brazil claim the offer from the Premier League outfit came in at £13 million, which fell way short of Internacional's valuations. The player's official release clause is £42 million and he also has complicated third-party ownership issues. Spurs might yet re-negotiate for Damião in the summer window, but only if they increase their offer to something in excess of their transfer record, which is the £16.6 million that they paid to Dinamo Zagreb for Luka Modric in 2008. Inter's director of football, Marcelo Medeiros said:
"The offer was well below what we expected. However, it is possible that the striker could go in the next window."
Tottenham have been short of attacking options with season, with Andre Villas-Boas playing with just two registered forwards in Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor. Defoe is carrying a pelvic injury, while Adebayor is still contesting the African Cup of Nations.