Tottenham are confident of clinching a £15million deal to re-sign Jermain Defoe today after the striker declared his intention to return to White Hart Lane.

Although Spurs boss Harry Redknapp had claimed last week the clubs were "miles apart" in their valuations of the England international, a fee is now understood to have been agreed, meaning Defoe should get his wish and rejoin his old club.

Defoe will hold talks with Spurs this morning and may even make his second "debut" for the club he left 12 months ago in tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final at Burnley as he has not played for Portsmouth in the competition this season.

Pompey had originally placed a £20m price tag on Defoe but it quickly became clear that they had little chance of keeping him after the former West Ham front man indicated his desire to leave the club.

Manchester City and Aston Villa were also interested in Defoe, while Serie A giants Juventus had been linked with the 26-year-old but the striker has set his heart on moving back to Spurs.

Defoe said: "If Portsmouth can agree an acceptable deal with Tottenham, I would like the opportunity to talk to them.

"I can't deny that Harry Redknapp's departure in October hit me hard, particularly because he was the primary reason for joining Portsmouth in the first place.

"I left Tottenham to join Portsmouth with the intention of working with Harry for a considerable time to come.

"I enjoy being around him because he brings the best out of me and that is all you can ask from a manager."

Defoe also said he had received death threats since making clear his desire to leave Pompey and indicated he could not play for the club again.

Reports today also suggest that Pascal Chimbonda is being lined up for a shock return to White Hart Lane.

Redknapp is looking at a loan deal for the 29-year-old French right-back, who left Tottenham under a cloud to join Sunderland last summer.

Redknapp is hoping to bring in cover at right-back as Alan Hutton is out until April with a foot injury.

Chimbonda's days at Sunderland look numbered after he was banished to the reserves following a bust-up with former boss Roy Keane and has failed to figure in new coach Ricky Sbragia's side since his first game in charge - a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on 6 December.

He also fell out with former Spurs boss Juande Ramos after he stormed down the tunnel and into the dressing room after being subbed in the Carling Cup Final victory over Chelsea in March.

A possible loan move to Lyon had been mooted but Chimbonda's agent claimed that was now "dead".

The French club are without both of their right-backs, Anthony Reveillere and Francois Clerc, for some time due to serious knee injuries and coach Claude Puel has admitted he is in the hunt for a replacement.

Chimbonda had appeared to be the ideal candidate but the player's agent, Roger Boli, now believes his client is set to remain in England.

"It is dead, there has been nothing new from Lyon," Boli said.

"The problem Pascal has had is simply a communication problem within the club. We're waiting, this situation will certainly move on."

Chimbonda's move still has a long way to go and Redknapp is likely to have an even tougher task in his attempt to sign England winger Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough.

Even though the 24-year-old is set to submit a written transfer request today, Boro, who value Downing at £15m, are determined not to sell to one of their relegation rivals. Both clubs are above the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference alone and chief executive Keith Lamb has accused Spurs of unsettling the winger.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson said: "I can confirm that we have received an offer from Spurs for Stewart Downing and I can also confirm that we have rejected that offer.

"I have spoken to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and told him categorically that their interest is not welcome. I've also told him that we will not entertain any further offers for Stewart.

"I repeat: none of our senior players will be leaving the Riverside Stadium this month. We've got a talented group of players and it's time for us to knuckle down and focus on the job in hand. As far as we're concerned, this is now an end to the matter."

Boro value the 24-year-old England man at £15m, which Spurs believe is too high. They have already offered £10m, and it remains to be seen whether Boro hold firm, with Downing making it clear that he wants to leave.

Meanwhile, Spurs's reward for their 3-1 FA Cup win over Wigan was a hugely difficult fourth-round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford - for the second successive season.

Spurs lost 3-1 at United 12 months ago but boss Redknapp guided his Portsmouth side to a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals as Pompey went on to lift the trophy.