Tottenham and Barca battling for Leandro signing

Tottenham and Champions League finalists Barcelona are set to battle it out for the signature of Internacionals Leandro Damiao.

The £13m rated youngster has already hit 16 goals this season and is attracting interest from Juventus, Roma and Benfica.

However, it is Spurs and Barca who have emerged as front runners for the 21 year olds signature.

Spurs will feel they have the upper hand in the race due to the commercial link set-up between the two clubs in 2009.

The likelihood of the signing is raised further due to Leandro’s good friend Sandro plying his trade at White Hart Lane.

Sandro, signed from Internacional last year, will be hoping to convince Leandro his future lies with the North London club.

Manager Harry Redknapp is known to be in the market for two strikers this summer after his current crop failed to fire Spurs to back-to-back top four finishes.

Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe are expected to leave this summer and Spurs have been linked with a host of strikers including Pablo Osvaldo, Gervinho and Didier Drogba.

Should Barca miss out on Leandro, they are expected to firm up their interested in Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi with the American born Italian likely to join the Catalan outfit in the coming weeks.