Villa alert as Defoe says Ramos wants him out

Martin O'Neill is a long-time admirer of the England international and will be watching his latest bust-up with interest.

Manchester United have also spoken to Spurs about Defoe's availability in recent weeks.

Defoe, who has 18 months left on his contract, is unsettled at Spurs having failed to secure a first-team place under Ramos.

And, today, the 25-year-old claimed he is being "forced out" by the Spaniard despite pleas from other officials at the club for him to sign a new deal.

The £10million-rated striker said: "The manager has said I can leave if I want, but I want to prove him wrong. At first, I thought it was a joke. I thought he was going to say I would be starting against Arsenal in the Carling Cup, which was why he didn't give me a game against Reading at the weekend.

"But he just said 'You can leave if you want to'. Yet I have no intentions of leaving this club because I love it here.

"I still cannot believe what the manager said tome. It's all a bit weird, particularly when I want to be at the club. I've been knocked back so many times but I still want to play at Spurs. I love the fans, it's a great club and we have a good, young squad here.

"It's a bit bizarre as people on the board and the sporting director, Damien Comolli, have been telling me they want me to stay.

"But I am being forced out of Tottenham by the manager."

Defoe has started just two games in the Premier League this season and, despite scoring five goals in his last seven appearances, is still behind Berbatov and Robbie Keane in the pecking order.

He experienced similar frustration under Ramos's predecessor Martin Jol and yesterday afternoon met with the Spaniard in his office at the club's training ground.

Although the club refused to comment on the meeting, Defoe told The Sun: "How can I be expected to stay for the next few years if I am going to be on the subs' bench all of the time? I don't think any player would accept that.

"How can I be expected to sign? I've always said I would love to put pen to paper but, equally, I want to play. "It has also been so frustrating for me not playing at the moment as I feel so sharp. I train hard, I put plenty of time in the gym and I do power work.

"I prepare for every game as though I'm going to play, which is obviously the professional thing, and then I don't get a game. It's as though I'm doing all of this for nothing.

"The other week I started against Aston Villa and scored a goal. While we lost, I thought I had done enough to play against Reading.

"They were always going to make lots of changes and I felt I could make a difference, but I didn't get a kick. I just want to get back into the team and then I will be desperate to sign a new contract. I have no desire to play for any club other than Spurs."

Ramos is well known for demanding maximum commitment from his players and Defoe's contract situation appears to have gone against him.

Both the club and the striker, who joined from West Ham for £7m in 2004, appear to have reached a stalemate and Defoe could now be sold this month.