Tottenham have reportedly submitted an offer to sign a Brazilian playmaker amid their talks for Santos left-back Souza, with the Lilywhites looking to salvage their dwindling campaign.
Spurs' season suffered another devastating blow following last night's heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth.
Thomas Frank watched his side take an early lead through Mathys Tel before Bournemouth fought back to go 2-1 ahead by half-time, with goals from Evanilson and Junior Kroupi turning the match on its head.
Spurs appeared to have salvaged a point when João Palhinha scored a magnificent overhead kick to level the score at 2-2. However, Antoine Semenyo then bagged a devastating 95th-minute winner to hand Bournemouth their first victory in 12 Premier League matches.
It was the Ghanaian's perfect sign-off before his high-profile move to Man City, but for Spurs, it was a reminder of their obvious shortcomings.
The result has intensified pressure on Frank considerably, if it wasn't already there.
Spurs entered the campaign with genuine ambitions of silverware and challenging for European qualification, but still find themselves languishing in mid-table following another collapse that saw them concede more vital points.
Away from the pitch, the Lewis family need to showcase how Tottenham's first transfer window post-Daniel Levy can help to transform the club's fortunes.
Progress has been made securing personal terms with 19-year-old Santos defender Souza, though negotiations remain ongoing regarding the transfer fee after Tottenham's opening bid was turned down.
Attacking reinforcements are also a major priority for the Lilywhites, with star winger Mohammed Kudus now expected to be out until after the March international break following his injury against Sunderland.
Frank has also been without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski all season, while summer signing Xavi Simons has failed to justify his £52 million price tag thus far.
Tottenham's need for attacking creativity has been a key theme of their lacklustre performances, and reports suggest they could turn to West Ham playmaker Lucas Paqueta as a solution.
Tottenham submit 'official offer' for Lucas Paqueta
The Brazil international is out of contract in 2027 and potentially up for grabs this year, especially if West Ham go down, which is looking more and more likely by the week.
Some outlets report that Spurs have held talks over a deal for Paqueta, with a report from South America now backing this up.
Indeed, according to Brazilian outlet Torcida Flamengo, Tottenham have apparently 'emerged as a strong competitor' to sign the £150,000-per-week attacker.
It is also believed that Frank's side have made an 'official offer' to sign Paqueta, worth around £26 million, but Flamengo are very real competitors for his signature as well.
Flamengo are attempting to lure Paquetá back to his homeland, and Torcida report that his current preference is a return to Brazil as things stand.
The midfielder came through Flamengo's academy before moving to Europe, and sources indicate he has a real desire to return to the Gávea and wear the famous red-and-black shirt once again.
While Flamengo are yet to match or better Spurs' offer, they remain confident they can complete the deal despite lacking Tottenham's financial muscle.
The Brazilian giants are working to construct a proposal that satisfies West Ham, while leveraging Paqueta's wish to return home as their primary advantage.
For Tottenham, Paqueta represents exactly the type of creative midfielder capable of unlocking stubborn defences and providing additional quality in attack.