Tottenham eye rival Premier League No. 10 and Liverpool target

Tottenham are interested in a move for West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini, according to ESPN.

The report claims “sources close to both clubs” have informed them that the 24-year-old is a target for Spurs, who may well be lining up a replacement should Christian Eriksen leave the club.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is believed to be a big admirer of his fellow Argentine Lanzini and the attacking midfielder’s performances against Spurs have grabbed the attention of Pochettino and his staff.

Lanzini has scored three goals against them since arriving in England and has become a major asset for the Hammers since arriving permanently from Al-Jazira for €12million in the summer of 2016.

The player is under contract until 2020 and the London Evening Standard claimed in the summer that West Ham would fight hard to keep the player after he was linked with a move to Liverpool.

Reports suggested that the board thought selling Lanzini would send out the wrong message and with the Hammers in such dire straits in the Premier League at the moment they will be more desperate than ever to keep hold of Lanzini.

The ESPN report suggests “Pochettino is looking to add more creativity to his side and is ready to test West Ham’s resolve to hang onto Lanzini”.

Spurs may also be wary of the reported interest in Eriksen from Barcelona and may well sell Lanzini as a replacement, although they would be loathed to lose the Denmark man, who has reportedly risen above Philippe Coutinho on Barca’s target list.