Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has been assured of major January funds.

The London Evening Standard says Spurs are prepared to back him when the window opens early next year.

Since January 2009, when Spurs signed Jermain Defoe, Wilson Palacios, Carlo Cudicini, Pascal Chimbonda and Robbie Keane, they have been relatively prudent in the mid-season market, often to the frustration of former manager Harry Redknapp.

This winter, though, is expected to be different and Spurs could return to Shakhtar Donetsk to try to sign Brazilian attacker Willian, who was one of Villas-Boas' principal summer targets.