Johnson set to become first signing for Ramos

Johnson impressed while on a three-month loan at Watford earlier this season and Tottenham are convinced Middlesbrough will be prepared to sell so they can spend the money to strengthen other positions.

The England Under-21 international, who returned to the Riverside Stadium last month, has been left on the bench for the last two games and is seen as more of a back-up to Stewart Downing.

Tottenham had tried to sign Downing in the past and relations between the two clubs soured over the way negotiations were handled, but that bad feeling is now believed to be in the past.

The arrival of Johnson will be all the more welcome for manager Juande Ramos, with Gareth Bale having been ruled out until March with a foot injury.

The move for Johnson is also in keeping with the club's transfer policy of signing young British talent, although they will also be looking to buy a defender and central midfielder.

The club is certainly making progress under Ramos and their hopes of qualifying for Europe are still alive following their 1-0 victory at Portsmouth.

Fitness coach Marcos Alvarez was upset at the state of the players' fitness when he arrived with Ramos in October, but a series of double training sessions have improved matters.

Alvarez has told close friends that it took just a month to turn things around and now the squad is in good shape.

That was plain to see at Fratton Park after they outplayed high-flying Portsmouth to secure their first league win away from home.

Striker Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal nine minutes from time, although Jermain Defoe was unlucky when he hit the post just before the end.

Tottenham have climbed to 12th in the Premier League, but midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes it is vital they get back into Europe next season.

He said: "We are a club that belong in Europe so that is the minimum target. This manager also belongs in Europe, with his record of winning the UEFA Cup the past two years.

"Not winning away had become a bit of a monkey on our backs. But we came to Portsmouth with a game-plan and executed it well. There was no lack of concentration, as there has been at key times.

"A lot of good sides have left Portsmouth without a win. We did it the right way. The football was entertaining, but as a unit we are more compact. There are fewer gaps opening up and we are a lot stronger. There is the feeling things have changed and we are looking up rather than down."

Ramos knows there is a lot of work still to do if Tottenham are to have a hope of qualifying for Europe via the league as they still sit 12 points behind Portsmouth. But Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp fears that Spurs can bridge the gap having seen them end his side's 11-game unbeaten run.

He said: "I thought at the start of the season Spurs would finish fifth. They are still capable of going on a run and getting right up there.

"I think we have been punching way above our weight, but the fans must not think we are already in Europe. They have got to be realistic."