Internacional president Giovanni Luigi has admitted that star striker Leandro Damiao is likely to finally secure a move to Tottenham Hotspur before the end of the year.

Spurs have repeatedly been linked with the Brazil international and came close to landing the striker during the January transfer window when they made their first official offer of £13million on deadline day.

Leandro Damiao
Leandro Damiao starred for Brazil at the London Olympics as he scored six goals in as many games. [Reuters]

Having failed to complete a deal in the winter transfer window there were then suggestions that Italian side Napoli were front runners to land Damiao as they were worried that their star striker Edinson Cavani would be tempted to leave the club in the summer.

However, it seems as though Tottenham are the favourites to conclude a deal later this year after Internacional's president ruled out the Italian giants and suggested that White Hart Lane is the most likely destination for Damiao.

"If a club want a player, they must talk to the president of the club at which that particular player plays, and not just deal with the agent - that is not correct behaviour," Luigi told Tutto Mercato, as reported on InsideFutbol.com.

"Recently we talked with Tottenham, Leandro is very likely to play games in England in the coming year. On the other hand we can exclude Napoli."

Tottenham currently have just two senior strikers in their squad in Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor, and the addition of Damiao would be a major statement of intent from the north London club.

Even with Adebayor struggling for goals this season Tottenham are still competing for a place in the top four and the chance to play Champions League football next season.

Should they manage to retain the services of double PFA award winner Gareth Bale and land Damiao, then manager Andre Villas-Boas would be confident his side could continue their progression in the league and make a major statement in Europe.

Damiao scored six goals for Brazil at the London Olympics last summer and has particularly impressed for Internacional in the Copa Libertaodres where last season he scored six goals in just 10 appearances in the South American version of the Champions League.

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