Tottenham are locked in talks for Palermo defender Simon Kjaer.

The Mail on Sunday says the Italian club's sporting director Walter Sabatini was in London on Saturday to meet Spurs officials, who have fought off tough competition from Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool to get their man.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is keen to sign a centre-half, with Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King both troubled by long-term injuries, and will be able to trigger an £11m get-out clause in Kjaer's contract once unhappy striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is sold back to Russia.

Landing the Denmark international would be a huge feather in Tottenham's cap as the 20-year-old has caught the eye of Europe's biggest clubs.