Villas-Boas on a scouting mission in Barcelona... with midfielder Samper the main man on his Spurs radar



Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas was in Barcelona on Sunday to run the rule over their reserve side.



The Portuguese took time out of the international break to watch Barca B take on Deportivo in Spain’s second division, a game the hosts lost 1-0.



The Spurs boss is looking for a striker in January - as revealed in Sportsmail's Grapevine Column on Sunday - but it is 18-year-old midfielder Sergi Samper he is paying closest attention to.



Having a look: Andre Villas-Boas is on a scouting mission at Barcelona B's game against Deportivo

Catch up: Head coach Gerardo Martino is also at the game should AVB want to discuss targets that include midfielder Sergi Samper

Villas-Boas is checking Spain Under 19 international Samper while fellow midfielder Javier Espinosa, 21, and goalkeeper Jordi Masip, 24, are others on the manager's radar.

Barcelona head coach Tata Martino is also at the game, with the pair likely to meet.



And although none of Barca's reserve side are thought to be able to step straight in to the Premier League, the scouting trip to Spain could prove useful.



Star: Gerard Deulofeu is an example of a player to have shone for Barca's reserve side

The youngsters who are deployed in the second tier are far from the finished product, but Everton's loan capture of Gerard Deulofeu is evidence that there are diamonds available.

