White Hart Lane boot sale - AVB to clear the decks for Premier League push

Posted Saturday, June 29, 2013 by The Sun

SET IN STONE ... midfielder Tom Huddlestone looks set for Sunderland move as AVB clears the decks

TOM HUDDLESTONE could kick off a summer boot sale for Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham.

The midfielder is a £5million target for Sunderland — and he is not the only one edging towards the White Hart Lane exit.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Scott Parker could all follow Hudd out of the door during this transfer window.

The shake-up comes as Spurs boss Villas-Boas looks to strengthen his squad for the coming campaign.

AVB hopes to seal a £17m swoop for Brazilian midfielder Paulinho next week.

The Corinthians ace is expected to travel to London to complete his move after the Confederations Cup final against Spain on Sunday night.

Tottenham are also refusing to give up on an £8m deal for Barcelona and Spain striker David Villa.

But with new signings on the horizon, Villas-Boas knows he has to trim his squad and bring in some cash — starting with the sale of Huddlestone.

The 6ft 3in powerhouse — who almost joined Stoke last August — has failed to nail down a starting spot since the Portuguese boss arrived almost a year ago.

The 26-year-old made just 11 Premier League starts last term.

Despite being under contract until 2015, Huddlestone admitted recently that he may have to look elsewhere for regular first-team football.

Sunderland could offer that opportunity and have already been in contact with Spurs about signing him.

But the Black Cats are not the only club interested in his signature, with Hull and Fulham also keen on the four-time England international.

The battle for midfield places at Tottenham this season could also force Parker to leave.

QPR have been tracking the former West Ham man for 12 months and their boss Harry Redknapp was responsible for bringing the player to Spurs.

But with the World Cup taking place next summer, the Three Lions star, 32, may not fancy making the drop down into the Championship.

Striker Adebayor seems destined to leave, though, less than 12 months after joining permanently from Manchester City for £5m.

His performances last season came in for criticism as he managed just five top-flight goals.

The 29-year-old Togo frontman has been linked with a move to Monaco.

A lack of firepower was highlighted as one of the main reasons why Tottenham missed out on Champions League qualification, finishing fifth by a single point.

Villas-Boas is determined to get the club into the top four this time.

Danny Rose, who impressed on loan at Sunderland last term, could start as Spurs’ first-choice left-back.

That means no place for Cameroon international Assou-Ekotto, 29. He is a target for Turkish giants Fenerbahce.