Andre Villas-Boas is close to being appointed Tottenham's new manager.

Press Association Sport understands former Chelsea boss Villas-Boas could even be installed as Harry Redknapp's successor within the next 24 hours.

Reports suggest Villas-Boas is on the brink of signing a four-year contract worth £16million.

It has been suggested Villas-Boas is prepared to forgo a potential £11million pay-off from Chelsea to take charge of their London rivals.

The Blues reportedly have been continuing to pay the 34-year-old Portuguese since sacking him in March, just eight months into a three-year contract.

Villas-Boas at Chelsea:

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  • Soccer - Andre Villas-Boas File Photo

    File photo dated 29/06/2011 of Andre Villas-Boas.

  • Soccer - Andre Villas-Boas File Photo

    File photo dated 29/06/2011 of Andre Villas-Boas.

  • Soccer - Andre Villas-Boas File Photo

    File photo dated 14/09/2011 of Andre Villas-Boas.

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Group E - Chelsea v Genk - Chelsea Training Session and Press Conference - Cobham Training Ground

    Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas during the press conference at Cobham Training Ground, London.

  • Soccer - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Chelsea v Birmingham City - Stamford Bridge

    Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas (left) chats with oncoming substitute Frank Lampard on the touchline

  • Soccer - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Chelsea v Birmingham City - Stamford Bridge

    Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas (left) with Frank Lampard (right) on the touchline

  • Soccer - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Chelsea v Birmingham City - Stamford Bridge

    Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas on the touchline

  • Soccer - Barclays Premier League - West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea - The Hawthorns

    Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas (right) crouches in front of West Bromwich Albion manager Roy Hodgson on the touchline

Tim Sherwood looks set to be promoted to director of football at Spurs, with the 43-year-old one of few members of their coaching staff to survive the axe following Redknapp's departure last month.

Tottenham are said to have sought assurances from Villas-Boas that he had learnt the mistakes that led to his Chelsea downfall.

Jose Mourinho's former assistant was dogged by claims of player unrest during his ill-fated tenure at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas arguably tried to change too much, too soon in pursuit of billionaire Blues owner Roman Abramovich's dream of getting the team to play more like Barcelona.