Tottenham Transfer Rumour: AVB Targets Croatian Midfield Prodigy

Tottenham are preparing another move for Croatian youngster Alen Halilovic. The Express reports Dinamo Zagreb sporting director Zdravko Mamic and Spurs' chairman Daniel Levy met in Dubrovnik to discuss the switch. It is believed the two clubs have an amicable relationship, following the transfer of Croatian midfielder Luka Modric five years ago.

Spurs' interest in the 17-year-old is long-standing and an earlier report, from The Sun, suggested the north London side had actually completed a €20m double swoop for Halilovic and defender Tin Jedvaj.

However, Jedvaj, who is also 17 years old, has since joined Serie A club AS Roma.

Both teens graduated from the Croatian champions' youth systems and are very highly rated in their homeland. Halilovic is the youngest player ever to debut for the Croatian national side; he was 16 when he appeared in a friendly against Portugal in June.

The Premier League club's interest in the Croatian was confirmed by Mamic early in July.

"Discussions and negotiations with Tottenham are still ongoing, but this job is absolutely not done. And Tottenham is not the only one interested, but we hope that transfer will be realised and that Tin and Alen will go to Tottenham, but no one can guarantee that," he said at the time.

"If the business was done, we would say so and if the transfer is completed, they will both stay at Dinamo. I can also reveal that there are many clubs after both of them, there is not a club from the top 20 in Europe that didn't ask us about them," he added.

Meanwhile, Spurs are also expected to announce the £8.6m transfer of FC Toulouse's Etienne Capoue and speculation has linked AVB to Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic.

Juande Ramos Backs Gareth Bale to Real Madrid

A major part of Spurs' transfer summer remains unresolved with speculation continuing to link 24-year-old Welsh international Gareth Bale to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The Santiago Bernabeu club were rumoured to have completed a £105m player/cash deal for Bale but comments from president Florentino Perez have thrown doubt over any deal.

However, for what it is worth, former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has backed Bale to succeed in Spain, if he does move there. Ramos moved from Tottenham to Madrid between 2007 and 2009.

"He has the necessary quality to adapt at Real and won't have any problems. A player of Bale's talent would play well in any team. I'd say that adapting to a country like Spain that has good weather and outgoing people shouldn't be a problem for him," the Spaniard said.