TOTTENHAM’S new head of recruitment Paul Mitchell is a big admirer of Danny Ings and is thought to be the man leading their chase for the Burnley striker.

Mitchell recently joined Spurs as head of recruitment and analysis from Southampton, and he was also keen on the south coast club pursuing a move for Ings before his departure from St Mary’s.

White Hart Lane boss Mauricio Pochettino was keen for Mitchell to follow him when he left Southampton for Tottenham in the summer, and he has now got his man.

The Argentinian is set to back Mitchell’s admiration for Ings with a bid during the January transfer window.

But an offer may only be forthcoming if Pochettino can offload either Emmanuel Adebayor or Roberto Soldado first.

Both strikers are on high wages in north London, but Harry Kane is the man currently leading Tottenham’s attack, and the club are keen to offload one of their high earners.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle are also admirers of Ings and have considered bids, but on Thursday Burnley boss Sean Dyche said the club were yet to receive any offers and that their star man was not for sale.

Ings, 22, is out of contract in the summer and while the club say talks are ongoing he is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.

If he moves to a domestic rival when his contract expires the Clarets will receive compensation for last season’s top scorer, but it will fall well below their valuation of the forward.

He has scored five Premier League goals so far and recently said he had no intention of moving this window.