Former Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas admits he tried to sign West Ham striker Javier Hernandez while in charge.

During Hernandez's final years at Old Trafford Villas-Boas tried to bring him first to Tottenham and then to Russian giants Zenit Saint Petersburg, only for the striker to stay and fight for his place in the Red Devils set up.

"I was close to signing Chicharito, I still have a very good relationship with him," Villas-Boas told ESPN.

"He always said: 'Coach, I'm going to fight for my position [at United] and I'll fight until the end.'

"I told him that he should give me an opportunity that he should come, but no. He believed in himself a lot and that also excited me.

"In the end we weren't able to come to an agreement."