ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS was yesterday close to being appointed Tottenham’s new manager.

Reports suggest Villas-Boas is on the brink of signing a four-year contract worth €19.9 million.

It has been suggested Villas-Boas is prepared to forgo a potential €13.7 million pay-off from Chelsea to take charge of their London rivals.

Chelsea reportedly have been continuing to pay the 34-year-old Portuguese since sacking him in March, just eight months into a three-year contract.

Tim Sherwood looks set to be promoted to director of football at Spurs, with the 43-year-old one of few members of their coaching staff to survive following Harry Redknapp’s departure last month.

Tottenham are said to have sought assurances from Villas-Boas that he had learnt from the mistakes that led to his Chelsea downfall. Jose Mourinho’s former assistant was dogged by claims of player unrest during his ill-fated tenure at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas arguably tried to change too much, too soon in pursuit of billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s dream of getting the team to play more like Barcelona. He also proved highly sensitive to criticism during his first major setback in what had previously been a meteoric rise in management.

Villas-Boas’s first full season as a manager saw him win an unprecedented quadruple at Porto, which included masterminding an unbeaten league campaign.

And despite his reputation taking a hit since, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy appears to have seen him as the best young manager to build on Redknapp’s success.

Tottenham themselves are said to be interested in CSKA Moscow midfielder Alan Dzagoev, with the player’s father claiming just that following his son’s starring role for Russia at the European Championship.

Arsenal have turned down a €10 million offer from Juventus for Dutch striker Robin van Persie, according to reports in Italy.

The 28-year-old, who scored 27 goals in all competitions for the Arsenal last season, is a target of Juventus, Manchester City and Paris St Germain. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juve will have to increase their bid to acquire Van Persie after their first offer to secure the Netherlands international was rejected by Arsenal.

Van Persie has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer with his current contract expiring in 12 months’ time.

Manchester United defender Fabio da Silva has signed a season-long loan with QPR. The Brazilian full-back, who can play on either side of the back four, has played 53 first-team matches for United but has rarely been a first-choice starter. His twin brother Rafael has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United, tying the full-back to Old Trafford until the end of the 2015/16 season.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill yesterday snapped up free agent Carlos Cuellar on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old Spaniard’s contract with Aston Villa expired at the weekend to allow Sunderland to push home their interest.

Gianfranco Zola will become the manager of Watford, according to new club owner Giampaolo Pozzo.

Ligue 1 side Marseille have announced that coach Didier Deschamps has left the club by mutual agreement. The 43-year-old’s future at Marseille had been uncertain with reports claiming he wanted to leave the club he had once captained after three years in charge.

There was further speculation after Laurent Blanc stepped down as France boss on Saturday, with his former Les Bleus team-mate instantly linked with succeeding him in the role.