We look at five potential replacements for the chilled-out Camerooian.
5. Danny Rose (Sunderland, on loan from Tottenham)
Young winger Danny, 22, was converted to left-back under former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp and has shone during his loan spell at the Stadium of Light this season.
After making just a handful of appearances in Redknapp’s final two seasons at White Hart Lane, the England under-21 regular will surely only return to north London if he is guaranteed regular first-team football.
Sunderland fans have been mightily impressed with Rose so far this term, and Villas-Boas may consider the former Leeds youngster’s return as a cost effective way to replaced Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
4. Jetro Willems (PSV Eindhoven)
The PSV youngster made the headlines when he became the youngster player to appear in a European Championship last summer, appearing in every game of the Netherlands’ doomed campaign aged just 18. Willems is a bright prospect who has also attracted interest from Manchester City and Man United but Andre Villas-Boas may feel he is too inexperienced to be Spurs first choice going into next season.
3. Fabio Coentrao
The Real Madrid star is the most expensive full-back in history – having cost Los Blancos an estimated €30m – but the Portugal international is reportedly ready to leave the Bernabeu this summer, particularly if his mentor Jose Mourinho is shown the door.
The former Benfica man is currently rotated with Marcelo for the La Liga giants but, at 25, Coentrao wants regular first team football and may be attracted at the chance to join Spurs if they qualify for next season’s Champions League.
2. Alvaro Pereira
The 27-year-old only joined Inter Milan last summer but after a disappointing debut season in Italy, could be up for sale at the end of this campaign.
The Uruguayan worked with Andre Villas-Boas at Porto and the Spurs head-coach is understood to have scouted the flying full-back before he moved to the San Siro.
With Inter struggling to qualify for any kind of European competition next season, Pereira could even demand to leave for north London, if Spurs express a serious interest.
1. Luke Shaw
The 17-year-old is one of the most promising young players in the Premier League and has been a mainstay at the back for Saints this season, despite his tenders years.
Shaw is affordable and is very much a Daniel Levy type signing but Spurs will face strong competition from Chelsea for his signature.