Sky Sports sources understand that Udinese and Valencia have joined the race to sign Giovani dos Santos.

Udinese and Valencia join Sevilla in bid to sign Spurs youngster

Permanent deal preferred

sources understand that Udinese and Valencia have joined the race to sign Tottenham's Giovani dos Santos. The attacking midfielder has already been targeted by Sevilla after impressing on loan at Liga rivals Racing Santander last season while the Mexican has also caught the eye on international duty. Despite being only 22, Dos Santos has already reached 50 caps, scoring five goals in 16 international appearances in 2011. But he has played just 10 league games for Tottenham, going on loan in each of the three seasons since joining from Barcelona in 2008 - to Ipswich, Galatasaray and Racing. Sevilla have made enquiries about another loan switch, with first option on a permanent move, while fellow Spanish side Valencia and Italian outfit Udinese are now thought to be interested.But Sevilla claim Spurs are only willing to let Dos Santos leave White Hart Lane on a permanent basis. Tottenham paid Barca an initial fee of £4.7million to secure his services in 2008 and they are believed to be looking for a similar fee, although Barca would receive 10 per cent due to a sell-on clause. Sevilla are currently unwilling to make such an offer so that has left the door open for Valencia or Udinese to land Dos Santos. "Tottenham want a sale but at the moment Sevilla are only interested in a loan with the first option to buy," Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has told Spanish press. "This is the problem because the subject is complicated."