Christian Benteke, David Villa, Hulk and Lisandro Lopez are believed to be the four strikers Tottenham are keeping tabs on, as Andre Villas-Boas looks for Champions League football next season.

Spurs missed out on a top four finish on the final day of this season yet again, with north London rivals Arsenal beating them by a single point for the second season in a row. The White Hart Lane club's major problem this season was the lack of goals from their strikers, with Jermain Defoe contributing only 11 and Emmanuel Adebayor managing just five.

The club are set to offload Adebayor in the summer, according to the Mirror, while Defoe is expected to stay. However, the report claims the England international will have to be content with a substitute role next season as AVB is keen on a more effective frontman in his ranks.

Christian Benteke
Reuters

Aston Villa's Benteke is understood to be Spurs' top target. The Belgian will hold negotiations with the Villans regarding a new contract this week but the 22-year-old could be lured by a move to London.

Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk, who worked with Villas-Boas at Porto, is also a target for Tottenham and so is Barcelona's forgotten man Villa, with Camp Nou chiefs now listening to offers for him. Meanwhile, another former Porto star, Lisandro Lopez, presents himself as a cut-price alternative, as the Argentine is now free to leave Lyon.

The report also claims Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is planning a massive a clear-out, following the club's failure to make it to the top four. It is understood that up to eight players, including Adebayor, Scott Parker and Clint Dempsey, could make exits from White Hart Lane this summer.

Villas-Boas believes the currently sidelined Sandro is the best choice to partner Moussa Dembele in central midfield. And with youngster Andros Townsend impressing during his loan spell at QPR in the second half of the season, Parker's Spurs future looks uncertain.

Adebayor and Parker could leave
Reuters

The versatile Dempsey moved to Tottenham from Fulham last summer but could be let go in favour of younger and more effective attacking talents. Adebayor is attracting interest from AS Monaco and could now return to the French outfit.

Tom Huddlestone wants to leave the club in search of regular first team football and Spurs are unlikely to prevent the 26-year-old from moving. Youngster Danny Rose, despite impressing during his loan at Sunderland, could also leave for the same reason, if Spurs can recruit another player for the left-back role.

Also on their way out are the out-of-favour David Bentley and Heurelho Gomes, who both spent their seasons away on loan. Meanwhile William Gallas, whose contract expires in the summer, will not be offered a new deal.

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