Hamburg on the brink of signing Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart

Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is on the verge of joining Hamburg, according to the player's agent.

The German club have had a long standing interest in re-signing their former talisman, and had an earlier offer for the player rejected and described as 'direspectful' by Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Rafael van der Vaart will reclaim his old number 23 shirt at Hamburg after the clubs agreed a £10.3million fee for the Tottenham midfielder.

The Holland playmaker will sign a three-year contract with the Bunesliga club, after flying out for a medical, and will wear the shirt that has always been associated with him at the Imtech Arena, after it unexpectedly became available.

The 29-year old was such a crowd favourite in his first spell at Hamburg, from 2005 to 2008, that the club refused to give it anyone else, in the hope he would return.