Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed his interest in Tottenham target Leandro Damiao, who is valued around £18million by Internacional, The Daily Mail reported.

Spurs have been tracking the 23-year-old for over two years and Internacional are now resigned to losing Damiao, who bagged 24 goals in 43 appearances last term and is largely expected to make the Brazil squad for next year's World Cup.

The powerful forward was due to be in Brazil's winning Confederations Cup squad but had to pull out due to injury.

Pochettino is also interested in Valencia midfielder Ever Banega as well as Celtic's Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama, but is short on the player's wage demands, while Cardiff are ready to pull out of the bidding for him after Celtic refused to accept an £11m offer. 

Malky Mackay's team have also made an £8m bid for St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma but the Welsh outfit face competition for the 18-year-old France starlet from Newcastle, Anzhi Makhachkala and Wolfsburg.