Leandro Damiao
Damiao has been placed with a final price tag of €25m, news which may ignite Spurs interest. (Reuters)

Tottenham Hotspur have been told they must pay €25m in order to sign Leandro Damiao after the Internacional club president named his final asking price for the striker.

Serie A giants Napoli have moved ahead of the north London club in the race for the Brazilian's signature in the past week as they seek to secure a replacement for Edinson Cavani, who remains persistently linked with a move to Paris Saint Germain.

Andre Villas-Boas remains a keen admirer of Damiao having tried to sign the 23-year-old on two occasions since taking the job at White Hart Lane, but Internacional's resilience to hold onto their talismanic striker has thwarted their past attempts.

The Portuguese manager's interest could be renewed after the Brazilian club's president Giovanni Luigi named his price for the striker, although the club will refuse to entertain offers a penny less than their valuation.

"We have had an offer from Napoli but not directly," Luigi was quoted by Corriere dello Sport. "However, €18m is not enough.

"It will take at least €25m. I do not want to make any assumptions, but if Napoli talk, we're here."

Napoli are understood to be ready to increase their offer, while interest from Marseille and Southampton has also been reported. With Internacional now resigned to losing the striker who scored 24 goals in 43 games for the club last season, Tottenham may have to move quickly to avoid losing out another target after witnessing David Villa opt for Atletico Madrid over the north London side.

Spurs failed with a £13m bid for Damiao on the last day of the January transfer window last season as the club sought to strengthen their forward options. Their lack of firepower ultimately played a telling role in the club's failure to secure Champions League football next season, something Villas-Boas and chairman Daniel Levy will be eager to address.

Tottenham have already spent £17m to bring Damiao's compatriot Paulinho to White Hart Lane this summer, but are in urgent need to strengthen their striking options, something echoed by the Jermain Defoe.

"I'm a forward but I can't be the only forward at the club," Defoe told The Sun." Over the years, the clubs who've won titles have had several strikers.

"If you want to do well it is important to have competition. It will definitely help us to bring more goals into the team."