Spurs Plot Move for Porto Star with Bale Cash - Report

Tottenham will consider a move for Porto striker Jackson Martinez if talisman Gareth Bale completes his big-money move to Real Madrid, according to the Sunday Times. The Welsh winger now looks set for a world record transfer to the Bernabeu before the end of this month, with reports of the Spanish side agreeing to pay £105m for his signature.

Spurs have reportedly already begun planning for Bale's departure and how best to re-invest the money from his sale. Earlier reports linked a number of players with White Hart Lane, as Andre Villas-Boas looks to strengthen both his defence and attack, ahead of the new season. Goal.com believes AVB has asked chairman Daniel Levy for a left-back, a centre-back, a winger and a striker.

And the Times report now links Spurs with Martinez and perhaps even Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

Martinez, who moved to Porto from Mexican club Chiapas as a low-profile signing last summer, scored 34 goals from 39 appearances in all competitions last season and is now one of the most sought after forwards in European football.

The 26-year-old was reportedly close to moving to Serie A side Napoli but talks have broken down after the Portuguese insisted Rafael Benitez's side meet the £35m release clause. The Express believes Napoli could now look to steal Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud, to partner Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, signed from Real Madrid.

Tottenham broke the club transfer record last week, when they signed Spain striker Roberto Soldado from Valencia. The BBC believes the deal was valued at £26m.

AVB is unlikely to stop at signing Soldado, with Clint Dempsey's departure for the US' Major League Soccer (MLS) and the future of both Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe still uncertain; Sky Sports links the Togo international to Turkish side Besiktas and the Mirror believes former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp wants Defoe for Queens Park Rangers, in the Championship.

A new striker, therefore, is almost certain to arrive at the Lane this summer, although the odds are on Martinez rather than Suarez. The Uruguayan remains heavily linked to Arsenal, who can offer him Champions League football... something Spurs cannot this year.

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas has critcised Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti for his conduct in the Bale transfer saga. The Italian recently admitted the two clubs were locked in negotiations regarding a deal. The Spurs manager insists the information should have been private.