Tottenham transfer news: Spurs favourites to sign Tanguy Ndombele despite United and Juventus interest

Mauricio Pochettino is eager to push through what would be a statement £60m-plus signing after reaching the Champions League final, and one that could be all the more important if Christian Eriksen leaves this summer

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Lyon over Tanguy Ndombele, and rivals clubs chasing the 22-year-old believe the London club are favourites to sign him.

Manchester United and Juventus are similarly interested in the midfielder, but sources say they are aware Spurs are currently ahead of them.

Mauricio Pochettino is eager to push through what would be a statement £60m-plus signing after reaching the Champions League final, and one that could be all the more important if Christian Eriksen leaves this summer. The Dane has one year left on his contract, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain interested.

There is a feeling that Pochettino will persuade the highly-rated Ndombele – but that will be no easy task. The midfielder would idealise a move to one of the two Spanish giants, but Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Manchester City, are only monitoring his situation at the moment.

Madrid are probably the likeliest of those three to make a move, but only, pointedly, as a cheaper option than either Paul Pogba or Eriksen.

Any deal would smash Spurs’ transfer record, by at least £20m, after the £40m signing of Davinson Sanchez in 2017.

United are similarly looking to renovate their midfield, and interested in Ndombele, but feel Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot may be more gettable options.