Tottenham have joined Liverpool and Real Sociedad in the race to sign Real Madrid star Asier Illarramendi, reports The Guardian.
The 25-year-old is valued at £15 million according to The Guardian, and is on £50,000 a week at the Bernabeu.
This may not put off Spurs, who have only brought in Clinton N’Jie, Kevin Wimmer, Kieran Trippier, and Toby Alderweireld so far this summer. This has forced manager Mauricio Pochettino to use Eric Dier in defensive midfield at times in the first three matches of the campaign.
If the North Londoners can entice him to White Hart Lane, then Illarramendi could be a good addition to their team.
The Spaniard has made 90 appearances for Los Merengues over the last two seasons, but has never been seen as first choice in central midfield at the club. The arrival of Mateo Kovacic will only push him further down the pecking order.
Real Sociedad may be Spurs’ biggest rivals for the midfielder, with club president Jokin Aperribay having already met with Real chief Florentino Perez about the transfer [SPORT]. The Bernabeu man played for the Basque side before his big-money move to Madrid, and it would be a major coup if David Moyes could entice him back.
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If they miss out on Illarramendi, then Southampton ace Victor Wanyama is another option Tottenham have looked at. However, the Saints are keen to keep the Kenya international with only a short time to go until the transfer window closes [Daily Mail].