Tottenham are set to make a £7million move for out-of-favour Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies.
Manager Harry Redknapp has shown an interest in the former England Under 21 centre half as he seeks to add to his defensive options ahead of next season's Champions League campaign.
Out of favour: London-born Davies has dropped down the pecking order at Villa Park
London-born Davies, 25, has dropped down the pecking order at Villa Park and would jump at the chance to play top European football at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham have no shortage of central defenders but there are worries over the fitness of Ledley King's knees while Jonathan Woodgate is battling to overcome a groin problem and former Luton and West Bromwich skipper Davies would provide more than adequate cover.
He was signed by Villa manager Martin O'Neill for £11m two seasons ago but a shoulder injury last year, that eventually required surgery, has seen him drop down the firstteam pecking order behind James Collins, Carlos Cuellar and Richard Dunne.
Davies remains shy of the 60-game mark he needs to trigger a new contract at Villa Park and his representatives were told during a post-season meeting with O'Neill that he could be sacrificed as the Villa boss has priorities in other areas of the side and needs to raise funds before he can buy new players.
Luka here: Tottenham will hold talks with the agent of Modric in a bid to keep the playmaker out of the clutches of Chelsea
One option for Redknapp would be to offer former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas as part of the deal.
The ex-Newcastle star, who has seen his chances limited by new arrivals at White Hart Lane this season, could be the ideal replacement for Villa should James Milner complete a summer move to Manchester City.
Tottenham will hold talks with the agent of Luka Modric over a new contract in a bid to keep the Croatia playmaker out of the clutches of Chelsea.
Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, is understood to be ready to pay upwards of £25m for Modric following his starring role for Tottenham this season.
But Redknapp is in no mood to lose one of his best players after qualifying for the Champions League. Tottenham officials will meet Modric's agent, Zdravko Mamic, before the weekend to discuss improving and lengthening the 24-year-old midfielder's contract, which has three-years left to run and earns him about £45,000-a-week.
Spurs may need to offer him a deal in the region of £70,000-a-week, an increase which will see him join the club's top earners King, Woodgate and Robbie Keane.
The offer of an improved contract for Modric, coupled with the fact that - as revealed by Sportsmail - Redknapp is keen to exploit Everton's failure to agree a new deal for Steven Pienaar, would raise doubts about an approach by Spurs for Joe Cole.
The Chelsea midfielder is available on a free having failed to agree a new deal at Stamford Bridge. But there is the question of Cole's wage demands given he earns £85,000-a-week at Chelsea and is looking to increase that by £15,000.
Meanwhile, Redknapp continues to be linked with a move for Wolfsburg's striker Edin Dzeko despite a £25m price tag.
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