Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has ruled out signing midfielder Yann M'Vila from French club Rennes.
Spurs boss looking to replace Real Madrid bound Luka Modric
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has ruled out signing midfielder Yann M'Vila from French club Rennes.
Although there have been no concrete offers for the 22-year-old defensive midfielder, general manager Pierre Dreossi has stated that the Ligue 1 club would be willing to let M'Vila leave only if they bring in a player to fill his position.
That player is thought to be Aston Villa anchorman Jean Makoun, but the Rennes hierarchy seem unwilling to push the deal through until M'Vila's future is sorted out first.
"There will be no new arrivals as long as there will be any departures," Dreossi told the French media.
M'Vila has become one of Europe's hottest properties having shone for France during this summer's European Championships.
He could be made available for a fee in the region of £15million, but rather surprisingly few clubs have registered an interest in the combative midfield star.
Villas-Boas confessed he was keen to sign him some weeks ago, but is now looking to replace the Real Madrid-bound Luka Modric instead.
The Portuguese boss told
L'Equipe: "He is an interesting player, but I don't think he will join Tottenham. He is a rather defensive player, but I don't think he will join Tottenham.
"He is a rather defensive player. We are looking for a more creative player. I won't lie. There was an interest from us in that player, but now we are looking at different options."