Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Mali midfielder Yves Bissouma from Brighton & Hove Albion for a £25m fee.
The 25-year-old will enter the final year of his Seagulls deal in a couple of weeks time, and Brighton are desperate to avoid losing the highly-rated lynchpin on a free transfer in 2023.
Bissouma was tipped to leave the club last year amid interest from Arsenal but ultimately remained on the South Coast and recorded one goal and two assists in 26 Premier League outings.
The Gunners were tipped to revive their interest in Bissouma this summer, and the Mali international had hinted that a move to the Emirates could have been on the cards.
West Ham United and Manchester United were also linked with moves for Bissouma, but according to The Times, Tottenham are set to win the race for his signature.
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The outlet claims that Antonio Conte's side have agreed a £25m deal with Graham Potter's side, and Bissouma should sign personal terms without a problem.
Bissouma's medical is expected to take place later this week, and neither his recent knee nor ankle injuries are expected to pose a risk to the deal going through.
Brighton forked out £15.1m to sign Bissouma from Lille in the summer of 2018, and the midfielder has gone on to register six goals and three assists in 124 appearances for the Seagulls.
The 20-cap Mali international has also scored two goals and provided three assists for his country and would often play as part of a two-man midfield with wing-backs at the Amex last term.
An unnamed footballer was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at a nightclub in Brighton back in October, and Bissouma is alleged to have been the player in question, but the police investigation is still ongoing.
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Bissouma would become Spurs' third arrival of the summer transfer window after Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster arrived on free transfers from Inter Milan and Southampton respectively.
Tottenham's move for Bissouma could open the door for Harry Winks to leave the club, with the England international struggling for opportunities over Rodrigo Bentancur, Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg last season.
The report adds that Conte is still hopeful of welcoming as many as four new faces to the club after Bissouma's signing, with the Italian after a pair of defenders, a new number 10 and a new striker.
A move for Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni is seemingly off the cards, and Axel Disasi, Roger Ibanez and Bremer have all been mentioned as potential alternatives.
The Lilywhites are also said to hold an interest in Everton striker Richarlison, and there have been suggestions that Winks could be used as part of a deal for the Brazilian.
Ben Knapton
