Tottenham are interested in signing Spanish midfielder Borja Valero. The 28-year-old former Real Madrid youth player is presently with Italian side Fiorentina but has experienced the Premier League before - he signed for West Bromwich Albion in 2008.

Andre Villas Boas (Source: Reuters)

Unfortunately, the Baggies were relegated in that season and Valero spent the next two seasons back on loan to clubs in Spain: first to Mallorca and then Villarreal, with whom he signed a permanent deal in 2011. Following the club's relegation from Spanish top flight that season, Valero then joined the Viola last summer and has since impressed, with nine assists and two goals from 31 starts in all competitions.

The Mirror reports Spurs' boss Andre Villas-Boas is a fan of the player and has been tracking him for a while now. Scouts from White Hart Lane have been at several of Fiorentina's matches this season and will be expected, if signed, to provide steel and stability, alongside Belgian Mousa Dembele, in the north London club's midfield.

Gareth Bale on Tottenham Win

Meanwhile, Spurs' talismanic forward, Gareth Bale, praised his team mates for the 2-1 win over Swansea City on Saturday. The 23-year-old Welsh international was on the score-sheet, with Belgian centre-back Jan Vertonghen, as the Champions League hopefuls recorded a first win in three games in the Premier League.

Tottenham have three high-profile league games over the next fortnight - a trip to Stamford Bridge is sandwiched between the visits of Everton and Manchester City - and Bale knows his side need to win all three to seal a position in next season's Champions League.

"We knew it was going to be difficult and it was a massive win for us. We'd had a couple defeats in the Premier League and we just wanted to stop that and get our season back on track... it was a great result and that pushes us right back up the table," the rumoured Real Madrid target told the club's Web site.

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