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Andre Villas-Boas denies summer move for Leandro Damiao
TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas has ruled out a move for Brazilian transfer target Leandro Damiao in the summer and has defended the clubs transfer policy surrounding the Internacional striker.
The 23-year-old striker looked almost certain to sign for Villas-Boas' side ahead of yesterdays' transfer window, but the former Porto manager chose not to increase Spurs' already rejected £13 million bid for the Brazilian international.
The Spurs manager who has been left with minimal attacking options after failing to sign a new striker said in a press conference:
"We have made it public before that he is a player that we chase, but we couldn't agree on the full conditions so we've moved on."
Villas-Boas has described being short in upfront as a 'risk' but does not regret increasing his bid for Damiao.
He said: "I've said in our conversations that if (the Damiao bid) was going to go out of proportion, we would step out of it."
When asked if a move for the striker was still on for the summer, Villas-Boas replied: "No I don't think (it will happen in the summer)…It's probably finished now."
Top goalscorer Jermain Defoe has only today been declared fit, but options still seem limited with Emmanuel Adebayor still at the African Cup of Nations on international duty with Togo and attacking young winger Andros Townsend moving to QPR on loan yesterday.
Following a 1-1 draw away to Norwich in the Premiership and a 2-1 loss to Leeds United in the FA Cup, many have questioned Villas-Boas' actions in failing to sign a striker.
Villas-Boas, who only added central midfielder Lewis Holtby and young defender Zeki Fryers to his squad over the transfer window stated: "If this window hadn't opened, we sit fourth with the squad that we started the season with and you look pretty comfortable where you are. We are as we stand."