It hasn’t taken a lot of time for the rumors connecting Tottenham Hotspur and France World Cup champion Benjamin Pavard to kick into high gear. There are two bits of evidence to emerge this morning that suggest that Spurs just might be serious about a move for the 22-year old utility defender this summer.

First, an EXCLUSIVE in TeamTalk that states that Spurs have “made an approach” to Stuttgart for his services, and suggest that they’ve mooted a £44m bid for Pavard. This is still operating on the assumption that Toby Alderweireld will be sold this summer, even though Manchester United are said to have cooled on their interest in the Belgian defender.

£44m is a big bid for a defender — it would be Spurs’ transfer record, eclipsing the £42m paid for Davinson Sanchez last summer — but considering Pavard’s age, growth potential, and performance for France in this summer’s World Cup, it would still be a pretty phenomenal signing. It’s not clear that it would be enough to pry Pavard away from the Stuttgart this summer, especially after an excellent World Cup.

German outlet Sport1 is claiming that Stuttgart wants to hold on to Pavard for another year, even though it means that they’d likely end up selling him for less money in 2019 thanks to his lowered release clause. Bayern Munich have also been hovering around him, but the idea is that if Spurs or another club come in with a large enough bid, Stuttgart just might be okay with cashing in.

However, that same Sport1 report says that Pavard would personally be willing to switch clubs this summer, but only to a club that will guarantee him a first team starting position and lots of minutes. That implies that Bayern might not be the place, as it might be difficult for him to break through in the short term. Pavard is set to have talks over his future with Stuttgart sporting director Michael Reschke when he gets back from the France celebratory activities.

All of this, apart from Stuttgart being reluctant to sell, is vague and unsourced, and it’s unlikely to calm the nerves of a jittery Spurs fan base that is already sharpening the knives over a lack of transfer activity in the window this summer. But Pavard is an utterly fantastic player, and if Spurs decide to get serious about him it would be a huge statement of intent.