Andre Villas-Boas Insists Tottenham's Hero Striker Isn’t For Sale

Andre Villas-Boas has insisted that Jermain Defoe is not for sale with the Tottenham striker now facing tough competition in the starting line-up from new signing Roberto Soldado.

After weeks of talks Spurs were finally able to get a deal over the line for Spain international Soldado as the striker smashed the club's record transfer fee as he made the move to White Hart Lane for a reported €30m.

Defoe had a disappointing season over Tottenham's 2012/13 campaign, scoring just 10 times in the league as he was forced to compete with an equally disappointing Emmanuel Adebayor for an up-front place.

Gareth Bale had to pick up much of the slack for the hitmen as they failed to reproduce performances of seasons' past and although Villas-Boas has brought in more depth to the squad he insists that Defoe will be in his plans for next season.

"Defoe is a hero for Tottenham and has been doing well," he told The Express. "He faces competition which he has always faced during his career."

Gylfi Sigurdsson is another player who has been linked with a possible exit from Tottenham as the 23 year old looks at increased competition next season from midfield signings Paulinho and Nacer Chadli.

Villas-Boas has been evading questions over Bale's future in recent days but the manager has been clear that both Sigurdsson and Defoe will have roles to play in Tottenham's race for a top four finish next season.

He said: "They are players we count on 100%. Sigurdsson is completely in our plans."

Tottenham have so far signed four players in the current transfer window with Saint Etienne midfielder Etienne Capoue also joining the ranks over the weekend alongside fellow newcomers Paulinho, Chadli and Soldado.

The side's outgoings over the course of the summer have been somewhat minimal, but should the side lose Bale to Real Madrid, they will have a serious hole to fill in the wing position before deadline day comes to a close.