Tottenham Hotspur have made another move for their long-time target Leandro Damião and they believe that they are close to a deal. André Villas-Boas, the club's new manager, is in urgent need of reinforcements up front and has identified Damião, the Brazil and Internacional striker, as one solution.

Tottenham have a sporting partnership with Internacional – they signed the midfielder Sandro from them in 2010 – and they hope that this can help to smooth the transfer. Damião, who has played at the Olympics for Brazil, had appeared close to a switch to Spurs when Harry Redknapp was manager only for the clubs to fail to agree a fee.

Villas-Boas spent time on a scouting trip to Brazil prior to his appointment in north London. Internacional have already sold the midfielder Oscar to Chelsea this summer and the club's vice-president, Luciano Davi, said that "we are ready for what may happen [with Damião]".

The Spurs manager would like to be able to call upon Damião this season. He has, at present, only one established striker at his disposal – Jermain Defoe – with the move for Emmanuel Adebayor, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham from Manchester City, becoming a battle to finalise.Tottenham have agreed a fee of £5.5m with City for Adebayor's permanent transfer and have also reached agreement on the player's personal terms. But the deal has been held up by a dispute between City and Adebayor over his package for the termination of his contract.

Tottenham, meanwhile, continue to stand their ground over Luka Modric to the mounting frustration of the player and Real Madrid, whom he has made it clear that he wants to join. Modric is training away from Villas-Boas's first-team squad but the club refuse to sanction his release for less than £40m. Madrid, who consider him to be over-valued, are threatening to turn their attention elsewhere.