Spurs' South American Striker Target in Exit Talks

Malaga striker Jose Salomon Rondon has not joined the club on its pre-season tour of Italy, choosing instead to focus on talks regarding a possible move away from the debt-stricken Spanish side. A statement on the club's official website indicated Rondon stayed behind as he was "immersed in negotiations".

Reports suggest the outfit talking to Rondon is Russian Super League club Rubin Kazan. However, the Venezuelan international could have options - Tottenham Hotspur have been linked to the player and a £10m deal rumoured. The White Hart Lane club is in dire need of proven strikers - England international Jermain Defoe is the only senior striker on their books, and a move to make permanent last season's loan of Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor seems to have failed. Rondon, 22, fired 11 goals in Spain last season to help Malaga to their first ever Champions League finish.

The striker is the third player from the Spanish club to seek a move away from the crisis-hit La Liga outfit, after Spain playmaker Santi Cazorla and French midfielder Jeremy Toulalan. Cazorla is reportedly looking for a move to Arsenal and a deal could be announced soon, while Toulalan, a former Olympique Lyon man, will probably also leave, according to his agent.

Meanwhile, Spurs coach Andre Villas-Boas has spoken of his satisfaction with the club's pre-season preparations. Spurs have just returned from a US tour on which they drew with Liverpool (0-0) and LA Galaxy (1-1), and defeated the New York Red Bulls (2-1).

"It's been a fantastic ten days for us. Everyone has been so committed to the preparation and fitness. We've had good signs from this tour. All of the games have had positive signs. It's not the results that will change our perspective. We had good things and poor things in every match, but the process is evolution and that's what we have to dedicate ourselves to when we get back to England," the club website quoted the 34-year-old manager as saying.

Tottenham face Watford in a friendly fixture on 5 August.