Tottenham are considering a January move for Southampton full-back Luke Shaw if they cannot find a way to bring in Fabio Coentrao from Real Madrid.
Shaw, 18, is considered one of the most promising players in the Premier League and is on the radar of most of England’s strongest clubs.
Although Spurs are only five points off the top of the table, their start has revealed vulnerable areas in their squad, one of which is at left-back.
Southampton would be unlikely to listen to offers of anything below £10million for Shaw, who has performed well in the club’s excellent opening to the campaign, which has taken them to third after 11 matches.
Shaw is the kind of player preferred by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy — young, talented, earning relatively low wages and with obvious resale value should he continue to improve at his current rate.
The last player Spurs signed from Southampton was Gareth Bale, who joined for about £10m in 2007 and departed for Real Madrid in a world-record £86m deal.
Andre Villas-Boas is desperate for Spurs to try again for Coentrao after missing out in the summer.
Meanwhile, it is unlikely the club will follow Villas-Boas’s suggestion that the medical team explain why they advised him to leave out Hugo Lloris against Newcastle two days ago.
Lloris was controversially allowed to play on during the 0-0 draw at Everton on November 3 despite appearing to be knocked out. He missed the next two fixtures and after the Newcastle game, Villas-Boas said: “Probably it is more appropriate that the club allow the medical department to speak and explain to you [the media] better.”
Standard Sport understands that, as Spurs’ medical chief has twice spoken on the subject, there will probably be no further official comment.
