Tottenham transfer news: Mauricio Pochettino has opened negotiations with Napoli over a deal for defender Raul Albiol

Tottenham have reportedly opened talks with Serie A club Napoli over a deal to sign defender Raul Albiol.

According to talkSPORT, Mauricio Pochettino is keen to strengthen his defence during the January transfer window and has earmarked the Spanish defender as the player to bring in.

The Argentine manager is not convinced with his defensive options and with Jan Vertonghen's future hanging in the balance, the manager is keen to bring in options in the upcoming window.

Spurs are reportedly planning a major overhaul during the January transfer window following their stuttering start to the season and recent reports suggested that they could listen to offers to as many as four or five players, including Mousa Dembele, Aaron Lennon and Emmanuel Adebayor among others.

Albiol, who joined the Serie A club in 2013 from Real Madrid, is set to move on and it is believed that the north London club have already begun negotiations with the players agent with a view to a January move.

Apart from the former Real Madrid midfielder, the White Hart Lane outfit have also been linked to various other players, but the most recent links are to Serie A defender Sime Vrsaljko and Espanyol defender Hector Moreno.

Meanwhile, Spurs defender Ben Davies, who spent his entire career with Swansea City, has opened up about facing his former club for the first time since his summer move to White Hart Lane.

"I'd been at Swansea all my life before moving to Spurs so it's the first time I've been in this this situation but it's something I'm excited about. I've not over-thought about it, but I am excited," Davies said, as quoted on Spurs' official site.

"I know a lot of people there and it will be a bit surreal. It's a big day. You have to take the sentiment out of it. It's an important game for us and we'd love to get the win," the Welsh international added.