Joao Moutinho
Reuters

There were reports strongly linking the 25 year old Portuguese international with a move to White Hart Lane all through the summer and both player and manager, who worked together when AVB was at Porto, were quoted as expressing their admiration for the other. It seemed like a deadline day move would happen. Unfortunately, the discovery, at the last minute, a third party investor owned a stake in the player's economic rights led to disagreements in valuation and the deal was called off. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was later reported to be furious at the Portuguese club's conduct.

Then there were reports Spurs could return for the player in the winter transfer window, although club sources admitted the probability of working out a deal in that short period was small and Levy would certainly not offer as much as he did in the summer (Spurs bid £24m for the player). However, it has now been clarified, in as much as anything can be certain in the world of football transfers, Moutinho will not be a Tottenham player.

"We set our sights on that player in the end of the transfer window - we couldn't conclude the deal but we were ready if that failed," AVB explained, adding, "It's not likeable that we go back in January. Generally the market is very difficult and very expensive."

AVB also spoke on the recovery of England midfielder Scott Parker - the 31 year old international is working his back after surgery for an Achilles injury. The veteran midfielder's presence in the first team would have complicated Moutinho's potential move and given Parker's excellent performances last season, the manager has indicated he would prefer to have the Englishman around, at the moment, than another new signing.

Meanwhile, the former Chelsea boss has seen his side record their first win in the new league season (and his first competitive win for the club) after a comfortable 3-1 win over newly promoted Reading at the Madejski Stadium. The win saw new signings Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jan Vertonghen and Moussa Dembele all start and produce solid performances. The star of the show, however, was England international Jermain Defoe, whose brace sealed the win.

Spurs will next play Italian club Lazio in a Europa League group stage game. The match will be played at White Hart Lane on 20 September and will see veteran German international striker Miroslav Klose face off against the side he reportedly turned down a transfer to earlier this summer.