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Leandro Damiao Can Join Tottenham on Deadline Day, Say Internacional

By Adrian Back: Subscribe to Adrian's RSS feed | January 31, 2013 11:34 AM GMT

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Internacional have made it clear that they are prepared to allow star striker Leandro Damiao to join Tottenham but have warned that negotiations would have to take place immediately for the deal to happen before deadline day.

The Brazilian striker is a long-term target of Tottenham and has been consistently linked with a move to north London for the past 18 months.

Leandro Damiao starred for Brazil at the Londo Olympics [Reuters]

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has always stated that he is happy with his options in attack, but with Emmanuel Adebayor at the Africa Cup of Nations, Jermain Defoe is the only senior striker at the club.

This has led to speculation that Tottenham would attempt to sign a striker in the January transfer window, however, Villas-Boas has always maintained that he will not be making anymore signings.

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It had seemed as though Damiao was destined to remain in Brazil at least until the 2014 World Cup in his home nation but now Internacional have admitted that they would be prepared to listen to offers.

"Leandro Damiao will only leave if there is a very quick negotiation," Luis Cesar Souto de Moura told Correio do Povo. "But no official offer has been made."

The director of football also revealed that there is still interest in the 23-year-old from Tottenham but made it clear that he felt a deal would be difficult in the short time frame.

"The news involving interest for Leandro Damiao, especially from Tottenham, will always happen, they come and go," he added.

"Damiao has a lot of quality, is a goalscorer, was the top scorer in the Olympics and he is a very important player. Internacional understand that it's extremely difficult, very difficult, for Leandro Damiao to leave now."

The Brazil international was the top scorer at the London Olympics with six goals and has an impressive record in the Copa Libatadores where he scored six goals in 10 appearances last season.

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