Tottenham Hotspur want to break their unofficial transfer embargo with West Ham United by making Mohammed Kudus the first player to move directly from their fierce London rivals in more than 10 years.
Kudus has been identified as a primary target by Spurs, who are believed to be optimistic they can clinch a deal for well below his £85 million release clause that is said to run for the first 10 days of July.
Tottenham had shown an interest in Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo and Eberechi Eze, but it is Kudus who sources believe is currently the most likely signing to bolster the attacking options of new head coach Thomas Frank.
West Ham are willing to sell 24-year-old Kudus to help finance a summer rebuild under head coach Graham Potter and the player is believed to be open to the prospect of a move across London.
Joining Spurs would make Kudus the first player to move directly from West Ham since midfielder Scott Parker in 2011.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy blocked Emmanuel Adebayor from joining the Hammers four years later and the clubs have not done business since the Parker deal.
Chelsea had shown an interest in Kudus, but the Stamford Bridge club are completing the signings of winger Jamie Gittens and forward Joao Pedro.
Kudus, a Ghana international, would give Spurs Premier League and Champions League experience, and his ability to play across the forward positions behind a striker would give Frank plenty of options.
Tottenham are yet to make an offer for Kudus, and the club will need to help fund signings by selling players this summer, while there is also the possibility of fresh investment from owners Enic or from outside the club.
The future of central defender Cristian Romero remains uncertain, but Spurs sources denied reports that a fee has been agreed for the Argentine with Spanish club Atletico Madrid.
Romero took a swipe at the running of the club this summer and it remains to be seen if he can be convinced to stay, with the defender due back for pre-season training in the second week of July.
Kudus joined West Ham for almost £40 million from Ajax two summers ago and scored 14 goals in all competitions in his first season in England.
He was less productive last season, scoring only five times, in a West Ham team that struggled in the Premier League.
Moving to Tottenham could make Kudus an unpopular figure at West Ham, who have not sold a player directly to their rivals since Parker.