Tottenham in £40million race for Rossi

Barcelona will beat Tottenham to the signing of former Manchester United reserve Giuseppe Rossi in a staggering £40million deal.

The Champions League winners hope to tie up the stunning move for Villarreal’s Italian international striker in the next couple of weeks and dash Spurs’ dreams.

Rossi was the target of a £32million offer from Tottenham in the last window and supremo Daniel Levy was holding out hope that the forward would say yes in the summer.

However, Barca have now opened talks with Villarreal over their prolific forward, who has grown in stature since leaving Old Trafford as a kid, and they expect to get their man shortly.

Barca will make space for Rossi in their attack despite buying David Villa last summer and the emergence of Pedro this past season - and the player is willing to take his chances in such exalted company.

Villarreal are already planning to spend the Rossi fee on two or three new players, and will still have some money left over.