Spurs Readying Villas-Boas' January Warchest - Report

Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas will reportedly be allowed the funds required to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window.

The Portuguese tactician had an impressive start to the season with his new club, capped with a win over Manchester United at Old Trafford - Spurs' first in 23 years. The north Londoners have now won their last four league games in a row, raising themselves to fifth in the league table, two points ahead of their derby rivals Arsenal.

Villas-Boas signed Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jan Vertonghen, Emmanuel Adebayor, Moussa Dembele, Hugo Lloris and Clint Dempsey in the summer. However, the club hierarchy are happy with the recent results and are now ready to sanction more money to the manager if he plans to make more signings in the winter, according to the London Evening Standard.

The report also claims that Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Willian - who was one of Villas-Boas' chief targets in the summer - still tops the club's shopping list. Christian Eriksen of Ajax and Adam Maher of AZ Alkmaar are also mentioned as alternate options. However, a January move for long-time target Joao Moutinho looks unlikely at the moment.

Caulker Thanks AVB for First Team Chances

Defender Steven Caulker has thanked Villas-Boas for giving him first team opportunities with Tottenham this year.

The 20-year-old, who spent the last season on loan at Swansea City, has already made five starts for Spurs this term and is gradually establishing himself as an important member of the squad.

"You want to know that if you are playing well and you are training well you will be in the team. It's not nice when there are favourites, I think the manager has brought that into the team and I am happy," the Daily Mail quoted Caulker as saying.

"The manager has come in, he's brought a few youngsters in, myself included, and he has pushed a few of us forward. When I came back he said I was in his plans, so I have to trust that and be patient and so far it has worked well. I have played in a few games now and my confidence is up," the England U21 international pointed out.