Tottenham Hotspur are now in advanced talks to complete a club-record deal to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.
Even though they only avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day of the Premier League season, Tottenham are showing huge ambition in the transfer market.
Spurs have already announced four signings that offer huge Premier League experience in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka and Jan Paul van Hecke for a combined fee of just over £50m, but now they are set to go one step further.
Tottenham are now lining up an audacious double swoop for their midfield to sign Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali and Fernandes, who are valued at around £185m combined by their clubs.
When interest first broke in Fernandes, some may have assumed that it would either be Tonali or the Portugal international, but it quickly became clear that De Zerbi wants the north London outfit to get both as he looks to transform Spurs' engine room.
Tottenham are also looking to make additions to their frontline too in what looks set to be one of their biggest and most important summer transfer windows in years, and potentially ever.
Jacobs: Tottenham in Advanced Talks for Fernandes Deal
According to Jacobs, posting on X on Wednesday evening, Tottenham are now in advanced talks over a deal to sign Fernandes from their London neighbours.
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the club's top transfer targets in recent weeks, and now they are looking to push a deal over the line and beat Premier League rivals Manchester United to his signature.
Separate reports have suggested that the north Londoners are 'very close' to an agreement on personal terms with the Portuguese star, who is keen to avoid playing in England's second tier next term.
West Ham are in a strong negotiating position thanks to an incoming £90m cash injection, with the club seeking £80-85m for their prized asset this summer even though they are a Championship club.
That fee would smash Tottenham's current transfer record, which is the £65m they paid to sign Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth last summer.
United also remain in talks with the player and West Ham over a deal.
Tottenham Also Targeting Alex Scott
According to Jacobs, Tottenham remain strongly in the race to sign Tonali from Newcastle, although they face competition from Manchester City for the Italian's signature, even though City are also working on a deal for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson.
It isn't just Tonali and Fernandes who Spurs have an interest in though, as they also have Bournemouth star Alex Scott on their radar.
The Cherries are hoping to tie the England international down to a new contract, but he is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Manchester United alongside Tottenham.