Chivas interested in Giovani

Mexican side Chivas appear to be prepared to offer Tottenham youngster Giovani dos Santos a route away from White Hart Lane seven months after his arrival from Barcelona.

Giovani, 19, was signed during the Juande Ramos era at Spurs for an initial £4.7million but has not made an impression under new boss Harry Redknapp, partly due to an ankle injury.

Despite being back in training and Spurs’ lack of strikers, Mexico forward Giovani is not thought to be in the long-term plans of Redknapp.

Chivas vice-president Nestor de la Torre told Setanta: “We have asked various questions about his contractual situation, but the truth is that there has been nothing formal.”

The deal with Barca for the youngster was worth £8.6million in total depending on appearances and the Spanish giants will get 20% of any fee if he moves in the first two years, and 10% of any fee if he is sold later in his five-year contract.

Redknapp’s priorities during the current transfer window are a striker, such as Portsmouth’s Jermain Defoe or West Ham’s Craig Bellamy, and a left-sided midfielder such as Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing.

He also wants a reserve goalkeeper to cover for Heurelho Gomes, although the Spurs boss is also a known admirer of Newcastle’s Shay Given, whose lawyer has issued a statement claiming “interest being expressed in him by Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham”.