Tottenham coach Martin Jol watched his side crash to 10-man Everton at White Hart Lane and then confirmed the club had made another bid for Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing.

Spurs are long-time admirers of the England left-winger and Boro rejected one bid from the north London side in the summer. But Spurs are now understood to have offered £10million for the player and are currently waiting for an answer from Middlesbrough.

Jol declared: "We made a very good bid for him. Our highest bid to be honest.

"I have to talk with the chairman later on about it. Today you could see against 10 men you have to stretch them. But we could not do that. He is the number one player we want. We want the best and for us he is the best player."

Tottenham's move for Downing was perfectly timed after they lost 2-0 to a determined Everton side reduced to 10 men after half an hour.