Juventus lead race for Kaboul, claims agent

Younes Kaboul's agent claims Juventus are among a host of top European clubs interested in the Tottenham Hotspur defender if he becomes available this summer.

Kaboul, 22, arrived at White Hart Lane last summer but has been out of favour under new head coach Juande Ramos after a series of blunders.

"I know a lot of clubs would like to sign Younes if he became available, with Lyons, Marseille, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Lazio all interested in him," said his agent, Rudy Raba,.

Kaboul, the France Under-21 centre-back, featured as a substitute in the Carling Cup final but has played only once since.

Ramos is expected to make changes in the summer ahead of his first full season in charge. Getafe defender Daniel "Cata" Diaz claims Spurs are interested in him, and Ramos has also been linked with goalkeepers such as Carlos Kameni, Samir Handanovic and Heurelho Gomes.

Reports in Spain also suggested Samuel Eto'o as a possible Spurs target but the Barcelona striker said: "Next year I will be at Barcelona. I hope to start next season at my best level because during the last two seasons injuries have affected me."

Ramos has regularly used Aaron Lennon's pace on the right flank and the winger has recently been showing the form to suggest he will be a first-choice player next season.

Team-mate Tom Huddlestone said on Spurs TV: "Aaron has been on fire... the main objective is to get the ball to him because he will take on his full-back. With Aaron's pace you know putting it roughly behind the full-back he'll have a chance of getting to it."

Elsewhere, the Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has denied the club have received an offer from Arsenal for the club's highly rated Brazilian striker Amauri.

Amauri has been linked with several leading European clubs and Palermo recently began negotiating with Juventus for the transfer of the 27-year-old to Turin this summer.

"We have not received any offers from the Gunners," Zamparini said. "Other clubs have contacted from Spain and England, but the problem remains his passport." Amauri is currently in the process of acquiring Italian citizenship.

"Then there's the issue that we have negotiations with Juventus," Zamparini added. "We have authorised them [Juve] to speak to the player. I want to reiterate that Juventus is a serious club like Palermo."

Amauri, who is under contract with the Sicilian giants until June 2011, has scored 13 league goals for Palermo this campaign.

Earlier this season, the player and his agent revealed their intention to leave Palermo this summer. The club has set a price tag of €20m (£16m).

Amauri joined Palermo from Chievo for €8m in the summer of 2006. Despite good performances this season, 6ft 2in Amauri has yet to be selected to represent Brazil by the national team coach, Dunga.

Amauri is expected to gain his Italian passport soon, which would make him eligible for selection for Roberto Donadoni's side at Euro 2008. In January, the Italy coach said he could not ignore him if he becomes available.

"I would love to play at the championships for the Azzurri," Amauri said recently.