Tottenham Identify Solution to Problematic Left Back Area Ahead of January Bid - Report

Tottenham Hotspur will reignite their efforts to sign Real Madrid full back Fabio Coentrao when the transfer window reopens in January, reports suggest.

The Portugal international was heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane throughout the summer and at one point appeared likely to be included in the deal that saw Gareth Bale leave north London for the Bernabeu.

The move never transpired however amid concerns over the Coentrao's wage demands, and it was to be Manchester United who would come closest to signing the former Benfica star, only for a deadline day loan deal to fall away after the Premier League champions and Real failed to push through a move in time.

However, with concerns over the left back area of his side, Andre Villas-Boas is reportedly keen to see the club relaunch efforts to sign the 25-year-old on a loan deal until the end of the season in January, according to the Evening Standard.

While the Spurs manager has a wealth of options in most areas of his team, the left back slot remains a problematic area. With Danny Rose, who began the season as the club's first choice left back, remains unavailable through a foot injury, the manager does not have natural left footed replacement.

The right-footed Kyle Naughton has looked far from convincing when deployed on the left hand side of defence while Jan Vertonghen has recently suggested he is growing frustrated with being moved out of his preferred central defensive role.

Reports suggest Villas-Boas envisages Coentrao as the possible solution to his dilemma and will make renewed efforts to bring the defender to White Hart Lane in the new year.

The Portuguese defender voiced his intentions to leave the Spanish capital during the summer but has been awarded four starting appearances in the league for Los Blancos so far this season.