Tottenham are ahead of the likes of Liverpool in the race for Manchester City defender Micah Richards.

Skysports.com says Richards has come through the youth system at City, after joining from Oldham when he was just 14.

Now the 21-year-old is set to be at the heart of one of the summer's biggest transfer battles.

City are anything but keen to lose Richards, but are believed to be ready to consider selling - subject to who they sign in the summer.

And Spurs are understood to be hugely keen on securing Richards' signature.

But it is also understood that Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa could also consider bids for Richards - who still harbours hope of making Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.