Tottenham Hotspur are maintaining their push for new signings and have no intention of stopping after sealing a £52 million deal for Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

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Spurs still want to make another forward signing before the 7pm deadline on Monday, so this could be one to watch out for, and it is believed that they’re also in the market for a centre-back.

Radu Dragusin is still recovering from a torn ACL and has been running on grass for weeks, but while he’s expected to return to first-team training soon, it’ll be a long while before he’s fully match fit (Alasdair Gold).

This means that signing another central defender is viewed as a key item on Tottenham’s to-do list as we approach the transfer cut-off, with Man City defender Manuel Akanji now emerging as a top target.

The Switzerland international (30) has just two years left on his contract and Galatasaray already have a financial agreement with City, but Akanji is taking his time to decide his next move and Spurs could well tempt him (Jack Gaughan).

However, there is also stiff competition from AC Milan, who’ve made a verbal proposal to Pep Guardiola’s side (Fabrizio Romano).

Tottenham in talks to sign Manuel Akanji from Man City

As per journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, Tottenham are in talks for Akanji too, and the £180,000-per-week defender is intrigued by the prospect of a move to N17.

Akanji likes the idea of a San Siro move as well, but the Rossoneri face a major roadblock in the form of his wages. The centre-back’s salary isn’t an issue for Tottenham, though, who have a slender advantage in the race for his signature as a result.

“Akanji could stay, he loves it at City, but I am told he is tempted by Milan and now Tottenham and there is a good chance he moves,” said Bailey.

“His wages are an issue for the Italian club. However, they are happy to meet the asking price for the player, which is around £15 million. Now Tottenham have entered the conversation and are holding talks – unlike Milan they don’t have an issue with his salary.”

The former Borussia Dortmund ace joined City in what turned out to be one of their biggest ever bargains in 2022, with Akanji becoming one of Guardiola’s mainstay defenders in their 2023 treble-winning season.

He’s started at least 23 Premier League games in every single campaign he’s been at Eastlands, and his experience would be invaluable to Frank in case one of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero succumbs to injury this term – which is very likely to be the case if we go off the last two years.