Van der Vaart closer to Hamburg return

Rafael Van der Vaart has edged closer to a return to Hamburg as it seems he is not in the plans of Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas.

The 29-year-old Dutchman's future at Tottenham is in doubt after two seasons with Villas-Boas coming in to replace Harry Redknapp this summer. And, while Hamburg sporting director Frank Arnesen admitted he was keen to have Van der Vaart back with the Bundesliga side, he was waiting to get the green light from Spurs. Gylfi Sigurdsson has since moved to Spurs from Hoffenheim and that could now pave the way clear for Van der Vaart to move to Hamburg, where he played for three years prior to joining Real Madrid in 2008.