Tottenham Hotspur are close to agreeing a permanent deal to sign Real Madrid left-back Sergio Reguilon, reveals David Ornstein.
The Athletic understands a deal is not done but progress has been made and is now highly possible.
Manchester United have also held discussions for the 23-year-old, but no agreement has been reached.
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Why are Real Madrid willing to let him leave?
Zinedine Zidane has never been a fan of Reguilon, who he knows very well from back in 2015 when they were coach and player at Castilla, Real's youth side. Under Zidane, Reguilon was loaned out to third-tier side Logrones.
Things did not improve when both were in the first-team — Zidane preferred Marcelo and then last summer signed Ferland Mendy, with Reguilon loaned to Sevilla.
Reguilon performed very well for Sevilla, winning La Liga left-back of the season and making his debut for Spain this month, but bizarrely has never earned Zidane's approval.
Do Spurs really need another left-back?
Jose Mourinho has always admired Ben Davies' dependability at left-back, but Davies has not been explosive going forward recently.
In a Spurs team that can look short of energy, the appeal of a more attacking option like Reguilon is obvious.
That said, some might ask why Mourinho does not use Ryan Sessegnon there, the talented 20-year-old long seen by Tottenham as an attacking left-back of the future.
Who else are Spurs hoping to sign this window?
The Athletic revealed on Tuesday that Tottenham are working on a deal to sign Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.
The last piece of the jigsaw for Spurs will be a back-up centre-forward to take the burden off Harry Kane.
Spurs are unlikely to have the funds for a top player, so ideally it will be an experienced target man. Alexander Sorloth, on loan to Trabzonspor from Crystal Palace, is in the frame, along with Habib Diallo of Metz and Bas Dost of Frankfurt.
Spurs are considering Wout Weghorst of Wolfsburg too.
Additional contributors: Jack Pitt-Brooke and Dermot Corrigan.
(Photo: Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports / Getty Images)