Brazil midfield ace could fill Moutinho void at Tottenham

Tottenham were left somewhat disappointed at the closure of this summer’s transfer window, having missed out on chief target Joao Moutinho.

Andre Villas-Boas had insinuated that clinching a deal for the midfielder would be difficult, but Spurs looked to be making headway after agreeing a fee with Porto on deadline day.

However, personal terms could not be agreed, and Villas-Boas has now turned his attentions to another midfield target with the January re-opening of the transfer window in mind.

Brazil midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso is the player in question, with Spurs believed to have made tentative enquiries regarding the 22-year-old’s availability.

Ganso, who starred in Brazil’s Olympic success this summer, could move for £8million, though a complicated third-party ownership issue exists.

He turned down a new contract with Santos only two months ago, signifying his exit from the Brazilian giants is imminent, as less than a year now remains on his current deal.

In light of this, his current club are resigned to losing the energetic midfielder, and are braced for bids from Sao Paolo and Fluminense in addition to Tottenham come January.

It is thought the player would preference a move to White Hart Lane though, and the opportunity to test himself at a level as high as the Premier League.

What could also encourage Ganso to make the move is the example set by his international team-mate Sandro, who has flourished since joining Spurs two years ago.

Sandro has become an international regular since his move back in 2010, and Ganso would hope a move to North London can reap similar rewards for himself.

With seven Brazil caps to his name already, that certainly seems a plausible scenario for the widely-coveted attacking midfielder.

And Ganso could soon join Oscar and Sandro as the latest of a contingent of young Brazilian Premier League stars.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.