Tottenham plan to move for Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic before the transfer window closes next week, according to sources close to the Serie A club.

Andre Villas-Boas last week revealed he wanted to add creativity in midfield and his top target, Porto’s Joao Moutinho, is likely to be outside Spurs’s price range at £25million.

Villas-Boas was also interested in Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila but Spurs are now giving consideration to Pjanic, who signed a four-year contract with Roma last summer after joining from Lyon for £8.6million. He is now valued at about £12m.

Sources in Italy claim Pjanic could swap one capital city for another if Roma resist Manchester City’s interest in Daniele De Rossi.

In the 4-2-3-1 system Villas-Boas is deploying, Pjanic could play either as one of the defensive pair or as part of the three-man attacking line which supports the lone forward. And at both Lyon and Roma, the 22-year-old Bosnia international was comfortable in a 4-3-3 set-up, which remains Villas-Boas’s preferred system.

Tottenham have also made an enquiry about City winger Adam Johnson and they are also determined to add at least one forward before the end of the month.

Despite the obstacles regarding his salary, Spurs are confident that they can conclude a deal for City striker Emmanuel Adebayor. The club have also been working on an offer for Leandro Damiao. The Brazilian is believed to be keen to move to north London but negotiations have been delayed by a failure to agree a fee with his club, Internacional.