Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News and Rumors Tracker: Week of July 1

June came and went, and despite page upon page of speculation, Tottenham Hotspur did not make their move into the transfer market.

As we head into July, that is almost certain to change.

The new season is fast approaching, and Andre Villas-Boas will be well aware of the benefits of getting his squad in place as soon as possible.

Check back here throughout the week for all the latest news and rumors relating to Spurs' transfer activity.

LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY 7 JULY

Stoke Targeting Defoe?

Sunday 7 July

Jermain Defoe could be a target of new Stoke City manager Mark Hughes, according to The Mirror's Tom Hopkinson and Dave Kidd.

The article suggests Spurs value Defoe at £6 million, and that Hughes is keen to reunite the England forward with his former Portsmouth and Tottenham teammate Peter Crouch.

Defoe's future may still lie at White Hart Lane.

Spurs have not yet signed another striker, and even if they do, they will need to retain some different options upfront.

Spurs Want Benteke? Bale Agent Says There Has Been No Real Talk

Sunday 7 July

The Sun's Charlie Wyett reports that Tottenham are prepared to wait until the end of the transfer window to try and sign Christian Benteke.

If true, this news will be concerning to Spurs fans who would like to see a new striker added to the squad long before that point.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas would have to decide whether the Aston Villa forward is worth holding out for, or if he is better off turning his attentions elsewhere.

Wednesday 3 July

The Mirror's Darren Lewis reports that Tottenham would like to sign Christian Benteke, in addition to Barcelona's David Villa.

Lewis writes that Spurs believe they still have a chance to get the Aston Villa striker as he has not yet committed his future to the Birmingham club.

Also according to the article, Villa (the player) has apparently been promised "regular first-team football in a season that culminates with the World Cup finals in Brazil" for the Spanish international.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail's Simon Jones reports on an interview given by Gareth Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett to Marca TV.

"Bale has not said no, nor yes. There's no offer from Madrid; they have to talk between themselves and we will see what happens," Barnett told their Futboleros show.

With Bale "back to Tottenham for preseason training next week," we may be getting closer to finding out his future.

Tottenham Confirm Paulinho Signing

Saturday 6 July

Via their official website, Tottenham Hotspur announced on Saturday that they "have reached agreement for the transfer of Paulinho from Corinthians after the Brazil international successfully completed his medical."

In his first official interview with his new club, the midfielder described himself as "very happy and excited to have joined Spurs." He added:

"

It's a huge pleasure for my career to be at a club as big as Tottenham. I know it will be a huge challenge but I think I can help all my colleagues to succeed and give a lot of happiness to the supporters.

"

The signing is Spurs' first of the summer transfer window.

Friday 5 July

Paulinho's move to Tottenham looks to have moved a step closer, with BBC Sport's David Ornstein reporting the Brazil international with have a medical on Friday.

Should all go smoothly, the purchase of the £17 million man could be announced later in the day.

Wednesday 3 July

Tottenham have yet to confirm the arrival of Paulinho, but one of their existing players seems convinced the move is about to happen.

In an interview with Brazil's Globo Esporte, here via an article on SkySports.com by Paulo Freitas, Sandro has welcome the news of his compatriot's impending signing.

"I can only say 'welcome to Tottenham, Paulinho'", said the midfielder. "I am very happy, I will try to do the same thing (Heurelho) Gomes did when I arrived. He was very important when I came and helped me adapt."

Tuesday 2 July

Paulinho confirmed his impending departure from Corinthians on Monday, as covered here by SkySports.com's Paulo Freitas.

As well as that, the Brazil international as good as announced Tottenham will indeed be his new club.

"The other interest we got was of Inter Milan, but the only offer came from Tottenham," the 24-year-old told his farewell press conference.

"The proposal came, we sat down, analyzed it and decided. It was a big decision to go to a big club. There comes a certain point when you need new challenges."

Spurs have yet to of announced the completion of the transfer.

Villas-Boas Steps Up Interest in Villa?

Saturday 6 July

The Mirror's Darren Lewis reports that Tottenham are "closing in on Barcelona hitman David Villa", and as he wrote earlier in the week, are still interested in Aston Villa's Christian Benteke.

Lewis also suggests that Spurs will have to up their offer for Roberto Soldado, if they want to tempt Valencia into selling their striker.

The La Liga club will reportedly ask for £25 million, rather than the £17 million Spurs have already put forward.

Monday 1 July

The Times' Gary Jacob suggests that Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has personally telephoned David Villa in an attempt to convince him to join the North Londoners.  

The Barcelona striker will now be heading off for his summer break following the conclusion of Spain's Confederations Cup campaign.

It will be a few weeks before Villa could potentially join up with his new teammates.

Agreeing a deal would at least take a load of Villas-Boas' mind, knowing he has secured a much-needed new addition to his strikeforce for the new season.

Spurs Interested in Roma's Pjanic? Saints to Swoop for Damiao?

Friday 5 July

Tottenham are interested in signing Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, according to the Daily Mail's Simon Jones.

The report suggests Spurs have watched the Bosnia and Herzegovina international several times, and he would cost them around £20 million.

The same writer is also reporting that Southampton are interested in long-term Tottenham target, Internacional striker Leandro Damiao.

Real Give Up on Bale?

Thursday 4 July

Spanish newspaper Marca is reporting that Real Madrid have, for the time being, given up their pursuit of Gareth Bale.

Ulises Sanchez-Flor believes that club president Florentino Perez has finally come to the conclusion Tottenham will not change their minds about selling the player.

Bale's likely hefty price tag was an issue anyway, and with the Welshman not currently willing to request a transfer, Real have little room for manoeuvre.

The Mirror's Darren Lewis suggests Bale may now agree a new contract with Spurs.

Also emanating from Spain is a report in El Mundo Deportivo, via ESPN.co.uk, that Tottenham and Everton are after Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu

QPR's Redknapp After Former Player Parker

Thursday 4 July

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is targeting his former player Scott Parker, according to the Daily Mail's Simon Jones.

Redknapp, now managing Queens Park Rangers, pushed hard to bring Parker to White Hart Lane in 2011.

Signing the midfielder would be a strong show of intent in QPR's attempts to get out of The Championship at the first attempt. Convincing Parker to drop down a league may take some doing, though.

Meanwhile The Mirror's Darren Lewis reports that, despite Spurs possibly looking to sell him, Emmanuel Adebayor is not interested in leaving North London.

Lewis writers that Turkish club Besiktas are interested in adding the Togo international to their squad.

Luongo and Hall Head to Swindon

Tuesday 2 July

As announced on their official website, Tottenham have loaned midfielder Massimo Luongo and defender Grant Hall to Swindon Town for the season.

Luongo is already familiar with the County Ground club, having appeared nine times and scored twice in the Robins' ultimately unsuccessful push for promotion from League One last season.

The 20-year-old Australian had been on loan at Ipswich Town prior to that.

Hall was a regular in Spurs' Under-21 Premier League team that reached the competition's playoff final, captaining it late in the campaign.

The 21-year-old moved to North London in 2012 having previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion.

Fellow Spurs youngster Alex Pritchard may also be a target of Swindon boss Kevin MacDonald, according to the Swindon Advertiser's Sam Morshead.

Sunderland Want Huddlestone? Spurs Bid for Soldado?

Tuesday 2 July

Following on from last week's story in the Sunderland Echo, the London Evening Standard are the latest newspaper to suggest Sunderland will be making a move for Tom Huddlestone.

Simon Johnson also follows suit in indicating Hull City could be interested in the Tottenham midfielder.

In the same article, Shakhtar Donetsk's Henrikh Mkhitaryan is again mooted as a potential target for Spurs. The Daily Mail also talked up their interest in the Armenian last week.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star's Paul Brown believes the North London club have made a £17 million bid for Valencia forward Roberto Soldado.

Spurs in for Dinamo Zagreb Youngsters?

Monday 1 July

Tottenham could once again be about to become the Premier League station for quality young Croatians.

The Mirror's Ed Malyon writes that Spurs are close to signing Dinamo Zagreb teenagers Alen Halilovic and Tin Jedvaj, citing reports in the Croatian media that suggest a deal has been completed.

The combined fee is rumoured to be around the £15 million mark, though there is a chance the 17-year-olds could stay at their current club on loan for the time being.

White Hart Lane was previously home to the Croatian trio of Vedran Corluka, Niko Kranjcar and Luka Modric.

Halilovic, who made his senior international debut last month, is an attacking midfielder who has been compared to Modric.

Jedvaj is a central defender and has also represented his country at youth level.