Montpellier HSC have claimed that they have agreed to sell Benjamin Stambouli to Tottenham Hotspur.
The midfielder, 24, had been expected to complete a £4.7m move to Fiorentina, but it appears as though Spurs have hijacked that deal to bring him to England.
"An agreement has been reached between Montpellier and Tottenham to transfer Benjamin Stambouli," read a tweet on the French club's official feed.
Spurs are yet to comment, but Montpellier have said that Stambouli, who has not yet been capped by the French national side, will now travel to London to negotiate personal terms and undergo a medical before Monday's transfer deadline.
This news seems to indicate that Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has given up on signing Morgan Schneiderlin from former club Southampton, having pursued him for much of the summer.
Pochettino is already well stocked in defensive midfield, with Etienne Capoue, Sandro, Nabil Bentaleb, Mousa Dembele and Paulinho all vying for positions in a competitive White Hart Lane squad.
Joe Fish
