Andre Villas-Boas claims he almost signed Javier Hernandez for Spurs

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Andre Villas-Boas has discussed one of his transfer targets at Tottenham Hotspur.

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas has told ESPN that he almost brought now-West Ham United striker Javier Hernandez to Spurs as well as Zenit St Petersburg.

Hernandez, 29, made his name in Mexico with Chivas Guadalajara before impressing at the 2010 World Cup with Mexico, having already secured a big move to England with Manchester United.

The diminutive striker – known as ‘Chicharito’ – became an instant sensation with the Red Devils, hitting 50 goals in his first three seasons with the club before his fortunes dipped following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

Hernandez fell out of favour under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, scoring just nine times in his last 40 games for the club before leaving for Bayer Leverkusen having been out on loan with Real Madrid.

Two years and 39 goals in Germany saw Hernandez return to England last summer with West Ham United, where he has blown hot and cold with seven goals in 22 Premier League appearances – but he could have been turning out for a different London club.

Former manager and now-Dakar rally driver Andre Villas-Boas has spoken to ESPN about his time in coaching, and looked back on his time in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, claiming that he almost brought Hernandez to White Hart Lane.

Spurs were in the market for a striker in the summer of 2013 as they looked to replace Gareth Bale’s goals, and whilst they settled on Roberto Soldado in an ill-fated move, Villas-Boas seems to suggest that Hernandez was his first target.

Villas-Boas also wanted to lure the Mexican star to Zenit St Petersburg too, but Hernandez was always fighting for his Manchester United career, meaning the pair never worked together despite Villas-Boas’ attempts.

“I was close to signing Chicharito, I still have a very good relationship with him,” said Villas-Boas. “He always said: ‘Coach, I’m going to fight for my position [at United] and I’ll fight until the end.’ I told him that he should give me an opportunity that he should come, but no. He believed in himself a lot and that also excited me. In the end we weren’t able to come to an agreement.”