Few players are more in demand this summer than Nice centre-forward Alassane Plea.
Clubs across Europe, including in the Premier League, are battling it out for his signature, with reports emanating from Germany this week that he had all but agreed to join Borussia Mochengladbach.
The Telegraph claim that is premature and the prolific forward actually wants to move to the Premier League and his preference had been Newcastle United.
It is said the Magpies are refusing to meet Nice’s £27million asking price for the player after offering £20million and the door has now opened for Tottenham to hijack the deal.
The signing of a player who has developed beyond recognition since his move to Nice in 2014 could be a masterstroke for Spurs.
Certainly, his price is within range for a club that must juggle their resources as they look to foot the bill for the new stadium opening in the autumn.
Crucially, Plea is also a fine player with the potential to improve and become an excellent one.
He scored 21 goals and supplied seven assists from 49 matches in all competitions for Nice last season and struck a formidable alliance with 25-goal top scorer Mario Balotelli.
Spurs are certainly in need of top-quality cover for goal king Harry Kane as they prepare for a third consecutive Champions League campaign.
Both Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente have fluffed their lines in recent seasons and the team need to be able to call upon a centre-forward who is not as statuesque as that duo.
With Newcastle haggling over the price, the opportunity is there for Spurs to steal a march and wrap up a deal for a player destined for the Premier League.