Spurs Target Favours Move to Italy - Report
Celtic boss Neil Lennon avoids UEFA action for comments against referee Alberto Mallenco
Tottenham Hotspur target Leandro Damiao looks set for a move to Italy's Serie A, according to the Daily Star. Spurs' manager, Andre Villas-Boas, is a long-time admirer of the Brazilian striker but a January transfer was unsuccessful.
"The Italian championship is a goal for Damiao," the player's agent, Vinicius Prates, said, adding, "he is focused on succeeding in Brazil but anything can happen in June, although we have no agreement with European teams."
League leaders Juventus and second placed Napoli are favourites to land the striker, with Prates claiming "it would be a pleasure" for Damiao to join the Naples club. In all likelihood Napoli will need to replace Edinson Cavani in the summer; the Uruguayan has been linked with moves to either Manchester City or Chelsea in the summer.
Meanwhile, although Spurs appear set to miss out on Damiao, they may land Englishman Gary Hooper. The Metro reports the striker, who began his career with Spurs, wishes to return to his former club in the summer. The Celtic forward was the subject of five failed bids from Norwich City in the January window. And apart from Spurs, Liverpool have also been mentioned as possible destinations for the 25-year-old, with the White Hart Lane club now looking the likely victors in the chase.
Hooper has reportedly told Celtic manager Neil Lennon he will not extend his contract with the club. The Scottish club will want a fee of around £10m for Hooper's services, £2.5m of which will go to the player's former club, Scunthorpe United.
Celtic were in action earlier this week, when they hosted Italian champions Juventus in the first leg of a Champions League knock-out match. It was a poor result for the home side, as goals from Alessandro Matri, Claudio Marchioso and Mirko Vucinic gave the Turin club a 3-0 win. The return leg is in Italy on 5 March.
Lennon was heavily critical of the referee - Spaniard Alberto Mallenco - after the game, over a refused penalty.
"They were being manhandled. They were being fouled. It's not rugby we're playing. Are the rules different in Spain or in Italy? On that showing, they must be. The referee was warned by our players to keep an eye on it and he ignored our requests," Lennon said.
Fortunately for the Hoops, UEFA have confirmed no action will be taken against the manager for his comments.
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