Tottenham are believed to be eyeing up the opportunity of signing a summer free agent who cost his current club a whopping £130 million, according to a fresh report.
On the pitch, Spurs' miserable campaign hit a fresh low at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon as a 2-0 defeat to Man United left Thomas Frank's struggling side flirting with the relegation scrap.
Captain Cristian Romero's reckless first-half dismissal proved the turning point, with the Argentine receiving a straight red card for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Casemiro after just 29 minutes.
The sending-off came mere days after Romero sparked controversy with an Instagram outburst blasting the club's transfer policy, ironically highlighting the squad depth issues he subsequently worsened.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes condemned ten-man Spurs to their seventh consecutive Premier League match without victory, a catastrophic run that has plunged the north London outfit into genuine danger.
Frank's side now sit 14th in the table, just six points above the drop zone, with their campaign threatening to unravel completely.
The four-match suspension handed to Romero for his second red card of the season means Spurs will tackle crucial upcoming fixtures without their defensive lynchpin, including the North London derby against Arsenal alongside clashes with Newcastle, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Romero apologised to teammates in the dressing room following his costly mistake, though the damage to Tottenham's Champions League qualification hopes may already prove irreparable.
Tottenham eye Dušan Vlahović on free summer transfer
Following the Argentine's outburst over Tottenham's transfer policy, a new report has claimed that Spurs are exploring a sensational free transfer swoop for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović ahead of the summer window.
The Serbia international becomes available on a Bosman when his Turin contract expires in June, with renewal negotiations having completely broken down.
Vlahovic currently earns around £202,000-per-week at Juve and has rejected the club's demands he accept a significant wage reduction.
According to Foot Mercato and journalist Valentin Feuillette, Vlahovic has cost the Old Lady a whopping £130 million, including transfer fee, bonuses, salary, and agent fees, but he is now poised to leave for nothing this year.
The same source claims multiple Premier League clubs are circling, with Tottenham and Chelsea both eyeing a summer move for Vlahovic after Borussia Dortmund made a January approach.
The striker has scored six goals across all competitions this season despite limited opportunities recently, showcasing the clinical edge Spurs desperately lack.
His physical presence and technical quality would provide a real goalscoring threat for Frank, with Richarlison's long-term future uncertain and Randal Kolo Muani likely to return to PSG.