Signing Leandro Damiao 'extremely difficult' says Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas Andre Villas-Boas has played down suggestions Tottenham are due to sign striker Leandro Damiao. Spurs have long held an interest in the Internacional player and reports have suggested that interest has intensified. Emmanual Adebayor has departed for the African Nations Cup meaning Tottenham have just Jermain Defoe as a recognised striker, leading to suggestions Spurs will sign a new striker during the current transfer window. Damiao said yesterday that there have not been any firm bids lodged for the him, but hinted his future could lie away from Internacional, saying he could only guarantee he would give his all for his current club. Yet it would seem White Hart Lane is not a likely destination for the 23-year-old Brazil international according to AVB. "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," the Portuguese manager told a press conference this afternoon. He's a player that is highly rated in the market, and it's unlikely that he will play for Tottenham. Damiao has been a leading star for Internacional since he signed for the club in 2009 and last summer he was top scorer for the Brazil side in the London Olympics.