Tottenham Keen on Real Madrid Left-Back Marcelo

Tottenham are monitoring Liverpool target Marcelo to reinforce their left-back position ahead of next season, according to reports.

The Real Madrid left-back - who is under contract until 2018 - had a good season but he was eclipsed by Fabio Coentrao's emergence in the decisive stages of the last campaign. However, boss Carlo Ancelotti is happy with both defenders and it is thought he does not want to part with either of them.

According to the Daily Mail, new Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to strengthen the left-back position as it has been shown to have weaknesses last season. Marcelo is seen as the ideal reinforcement – as Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches are all expected to leave White Hart Lane.

However, Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo claims that Los Blancos are not interesting in selling the defender. But in case they start negotiations with Tottenham, Real president Florentino Perez could make things very complicated as the English club did last summer when Los Blancos went for Gareth Bale - having to pay €101m for the former Spurs star.

Marcelo is one of the captains of Real Madrid as well as a heavyweight in the dressing room. The 26-year-old has been at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2007, and even though his departure will not be easy, Tottenham have him on their wish-list.

Spurs are aware that his acquisition could be very costly. So that they also have a plan B, monitoring Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Rojo as they are ready to compete with Liverpool to secure his services.

But the Argentine recently expressed his desire to play for Barcelona, saying: "Obviously I would like to play for Barcelona, but I have spoken nothing about it with Leo (Messi)."