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Tottenham Hotspur look to be winding up their transfer efforts again as they attempt to hijack Arsenal's deal for St Etienne defender William Saliba.

Spurs' north London rivals looked to be closing in on a deal for the highly-rated 18-year-old after being locked in negotiations with the Ligue 1 side for the past week.

However, football.london understands that Tottenham have made a late move to snatch Saliba from under Arsenal's noses and reports in France suggest that the Champions League finalists have proposed a similar £27m offer for the teenager but with add-ons that could prove to be more lucrative for St Etienne.

Tottenham's chief scout Steve Hitchen is a Ligue 1 expert and he and the club have been keeping a close eye on the young central defender.

It is unclear at this stage whether Spurs would be willing to let Saliba head back to the French club on loan as Arsenal are believed to be willing to do.

The future of Toby Alderweireld remains clouded at Tottenham with a clause in his contract meaning that until the final two weeks of the summer window he can be bought for £25m.

No team has yet come in with a bid to match that amount, although Roma are understood to be interested in acquiring the 30-year-old Belgian for a lower fee.

Spurs have also already loaned back one player this summer, having allowed Jack Clarke to head back to Leeds United for the coming season. However, that was after a £9m deal, rather than a £27m one.

It is also being reported in France that Arsenal are confident that Saliba, who played at the U20 World Cup last month, will still pick them over their north London rivals having already agreed terms with them.

Tottenham have already signed one Frenchman this summer, smashing their club record with the £63m purchase of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon. The 22-year-old France international began pre-season training under Mauricio Pochettino's stewardship on Friday morning.

Spurs have also been linked with a £30m move for another midfielder from Leeds - Kalvin Philllips. However, football.london understands that the club are not currently looking to bring in the 23-year-old. Neither are they looking at making a move for Dinamo Zagreb's Spanish winger Dani Olmo.

Tottenham's main midfield targets after capturing Ndombele remain Real Betis' Giovani Lo Celso and Real Madrid's Dani Ceballos, although the latter could also be complicated by the player's wish for a loan deal, while the north London outfit are also expected to move for Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegon this month.