Tottenham are closing in on a deal for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma after agreeing to pay a transfer fee in the region of £25million.
Bissouma has just 12 months left to run on his current contract and Brighton are ready to cash in this summer instead of losing him for nothing next year.
Spurs boss Antonio Conte has made signing a midfielder one of his key targets this summer and a deal for Bissouma could be wrapped up this week.
Tottenham have agreed to pay Brighton around £25m for the 25-year-old and personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
Bissouma has impressed for Brighton in recent seasons, with Arsenal and Manchester United among the other clubs to have scouted him.
Tottenham have made their interest concrete, however, and the Mali international is set to become their third summer signing, after goalkeeper Fraser Forster and wing-back Ivan Perisic both arrived on free transfers.
Spurs are ready to back Conte this summer and, as well as Bissouma, they want to sign a centre-back, forward and right wing-back.
Djed Spence is their top target at right wing-back and talks with Middlesbrough over a deal are due to accelerate now that he has finished his international commitments with England’s Under-21s.
Tottenham are also fans of Everton forward Richarlison, but they are yet to firm up their interest with an official offer. Spurs have other options for the forward position and have been offered the chance to bid for Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, who is also wanted by Arsenal.
Tottenham are also working hard to bolster their team off the field by bringing in Gretar Steinsson as performance director and adding Simon Davies to their academy setup.
Steinsson, a former Iceland international who represented Bolton during his playing career, has previously worked at Everton as their head of recruitment.
Davies has been working at Anderlecht alongside Vincent Kompany and it was thought he could follow the Belgian to Burnley, but the 48-year-old is heading to Spurs instead.
Tottenham have also moved to bring in Rangers’ highly-rated chief scout Andy Scoulding.
