Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has seemingly identified a replacement for current number one Brad Friedel in the form of Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

The Guardian has reported that Villas-Boas has held talks with the representatives of the Brazilian keeper as he looks to find a player capable of being first choice for a number of years to come.

Friedel is now 42-years-old and back-up stopper Carlo Cudicini is just four years younger, both players now considered to be coming to the end of long careers at the very top.

Julio Cesar
Tottenham are hoping to sign Inter Milan keeper Julio Cesar [Reuters]

Spurs do have a Brazilian international already at the club but Huerelho Gomes was out-of-favour with Harry Redknapp and has now indicated that he would like to return to South America during the summer transfer window.

The report in the Guardian states that Villas-Boas is worried that he will be priced out of a deal for Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and has now turned his attention to luring Cesar away from Italian giants Inter Milan.

It is believed that Inter would be willing to allow the 32-year-old to leave and his wages of around £70,000-a-week should not be a problem for Tottenham.

Villas-Boas met with the agent of Cesar in London earlier this week and Tottenham fans will be hoping that this is not the only piece of business that s tied up in the coming weeks.

The former Chelsea manager knows that it is still a priority to sign another striker as they have just one senior figure at the club in Jermain Defoe.

Emmanuel Adebayor is seemingly making life difficult as Tottenham attempt to sign him on a permanent deal from Manchester City, while Brazilian forward Leandro Damiao is another name high on the hitlist.

However, it seems the first deal could be completed at the other end of the pitch as Villas-Boas continues to overhaul the Spurs squad as he looks to secure another top four finish.