Villas-Boas appointed new Tottenham manager

By Greg Stobart

Andre Villas-Boas is the new Tottenham manager and his appointment on a three-year contract will be confirmed by the club this lunchtime.

The former Chelsea boss emerged as the outstanding candidate during a process that lasted almost three weeks since Spurs sacked Harry Redknapp last month.

Chairman Daniel Levy was so impressed by Villas-Boas during a series of talks that he shelved plans to talk to Laurent Blanc, the former France coach who started the process as the leading candidate.

The 34-year-old fits the club’s desire for a young, progressive manager who can get Spurs back in the Champions League with an attacking brand of football, while lowering the average age of the squad and making shrewd signings in the transfer market.

To that end, the Portuguese will be heavily backed this summer, with Spurs ready to spend up to £70 million on new players, although that will be partly offset by the anticipated departure of £35m-rated Luka Modric to Real Madrid.

Villas-Boas will look to convince Modric to stay and assess the rest of the squad when their pre-season preparation kick in to gear next week, but has already been heavily involved in proposed transfers.

Tim Sherwood, the club’s technical co-ordinator, is also expected to receive a promotion as the Londoners take a more consultative approach towards transfers than under Redknapp.

Tottenham believe they have beaten Liverpool in the race to sign midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson for £8m from Hoffenheim, with the 22-year-old having agreed personal terms and completed a medical.

Jan Vertonghen, the Ajax captain, is also likely to join in a £9.6m deal once he has resolved a dispute with the Dutch club over his entitlement to a 15 per cent share of the transfer fee.