Tottenham Hotspur are closing on FC Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho, according to Spanish daily AS.

 

While the lion’s share of attention is being given to gaining top dollar for Luka Modric, who is likely to be sold to Real Madrid, Spurs are also well advanced in moves to sign a replacement for the Croatian in Moutinho.

 

The Portuguese midfielder is a man new Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas knows well from his stint in charge at the Estadio do Dragao – and the 34-year-old was heavily linked with swooping to take the player to Stamford Bridge when he was Chelsea boss last season.

 

Villas-Boas is now likely to realise his ambition to manage the schemer once again, albeit at White Hart Lane rather than Stamford Bridge.

 

Talks are believed to be well under way for Moutinho, with the fee received for Modric able to finance the swoop.

 

Moutinho is highly rated and appeared for Portugal at Euro 2012 this summer.

 

The Sporting Lisbon youth product has never played his club football outside Portugal, but he has enjoyed substantial success in his homeland.

 

Moutinho has picked up two Portuguese titles and three Portuguese Cups. He also helped Porto to the Europa League.

 

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