Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing to firm up their interest in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha.
On Thursday evening, Spurs boosted their hopes of Champions League football by beating Arsenal by a 3-0 scoreline, closing the gap on the fourth-placed Gunners to just one point with two games remaining.
However, regardless of what European competition they participate in next season, head coach Antonio Conte is keen to make several high-profile additions, most notably in defensive and midfield areas.
According to Jornal de Noticias, the North London outfit are planning to make contact with Sporting regarding a deal for Palhinha.
The 26-year-old is being tipped to make the switch to England in the summer with Wolverhampton Wanderers also known to hold a strong interest in the Portugal international.
Nevertheless, it is suggested that Spurs are at the front of the queue for the versatile defensive-minded player, who may cost in the region of €40m (£34.1m) once add-ons have been included.
Darren Plant
