Tottenham Step Up Interest in Liverpool and United Winger Target - Report

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly stepped up interest in Blackpool winger Thomas Ince, with a view to making a formal offer in January. The 20 year old, a Liverpool academy product, can operate in the centre or on the left side of the midfield.

Ince has been in sublime form in the Championship this season and has caught the attention of a host of top Premier League clubs, with an impressive record of 10 goals and six assists in 15 appearances.

Manchester United were considered frontrunners for player's signature till recently, after his father, a Red Devils legend and former England captain Paul Ince, reportedly met with Sir Alex Ferguson last month in an attempt to push through a move to Old Trafford. Meanwhile Liverpool are also understood to be keen to re-sign their academy star.

However, according to The Sun, Andre Villas-Boas has now asked the club to make arrangements to watch all of Blackpool's matches, with coaches Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand set to evaluate Ince's performances. The report also claims Spurs are now certain to make a move for the England U21 star when the transfer window opens, though his price tag has increased to £10m.

Rambaudi: AVB is Average

Meanwhile, former Lazio midfielder Roberto Rambaudi has labelled Villas-Boas an average manager.

The Seie A club played out a 0-0 draw with Spurs at the Stadio Olimpico in the Europa League tie in midweek, thanks to a string of brilliant saves from Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. And Rambaudi, who spent four seasons at Lazio, has not been impressed with the Portuguese coach from the time he took over as the Chelsea boss before the beginning of last season.

"Villas-Boas is an average coach. He proved that with Chelsea and at the moment with Tottenham. He should be doing much better - you just have to look at their [eighth-place] ranking in the Premier League table to see that. He is unable to give clear instructions to the team, and only with Porto has he done a good job, and even then he had the best players available to him," the former Italy international pointed out.