Tottenham Hotspur have held initial talks with a representative of Andre Villas-Boas as they assess candidates to replace Harry Redknapp as manager
Daniel Levy ended a long standing dispute with Redknapp last week by dismissing his manager of the previous four years.
Tottenham's chairman had been dissatisfied with Redknapp's handling of the club's players, training ground discipline, his pursuit of the England manager's job and a refusal to follow his lead in public pronouncement on transfer policy.
Villas-Boas, sacked by Chelsea in March after a traumatic nine-month tenure at Stamford Bridge, is yet to be offered the vacant position and is understood to be just one of several candidates Levy is considering.
Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez - interviewed by Liverpool last month - is well regarded by Tottenham. David Moyes, who has only one year lft on his Everton contract, is also expected to be approached.
While no decision has been taken on returning to a management structure he has employed in the past, Levy is exploring the idea of reintroducing a director of football. Such an appointment would lessen his own workload at a time in which he has been faced with significant personal commitments away from football.
Marco Branca, currently Internazionale's technical director, is understood to have held preliminary talks about the proposed position.
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