Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has claimed that it is "highly unlikely" that the club will reignite their interest in Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho during the January transfer window.

Spurs agreed a fee for the 26-year-old during the summer, however the proposed move fell through on transfer deadline day.

"We were prepared for missing out on that player," Villas-Boas told London 24.

"We set our sights on that player in the end of the transfer window - we couldn't conclude the deal but we were ready if that failed.

"It's not likely that we go back in January. Generally the market is very difficult and very expensive, and it's highly unlikely that we will continue to pursue that transfer because by then we will have Scott Parker coming back, and he's a player that we want to come back as soon as possible."

Moutinho's current contract expires in June 2015.