Tottenham Transfer Rumors: AVB Says Signing Damiao "Extremely Difficult"

Tottenham Hotspur need reinforcements up front as they head into the second half of the 2012-13 season, but it doesn't look like they'll be coming from Brazil any time soon.

Tottenham and manager Andre Villas-Boas have always had an interest in signing Brazilian star Leandro Damiao, but the Spurs boss admits bringing the striker to White Hart Lane would be next to impossible (via The Independent):

"

Leandro is a player we've always appreciated, that this club appreciated before I arrived, but it's extremely difficult that he's going to join Tottenham. He's a player that is highly rated in the market, and it's unlikely that he will play for Tottenham.

"

Jermain Defoe has netted 10 goals this season, behind only world-class strikers Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez, Michu and Demba Ba in the Premier League.

In fact, Defoe and Gareth Bale are the second-most prolific pair of goal scorers in England, behind only Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez.

With that being said, with Emmanuel Adebayor leaving for international duty with Togo this week ahead of the African Nations Cup, the only senior striker on the squad is Defoe.

That's enough for a mid-table side that could scrape by with a couple of draws over the next few weeks, but not for a club like Tottenham, racing Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal for a spot in next season's Champions League.

Damiao has scored seven goals in 19 appearances with Brazilian Serie A club Internacional this season.