Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with moves for Everton star Ross Barkley and Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri throughout the summer transfer window and it seems apparent that manager Mauricio Pochettino is looking for a central midfielder with more attacking tendencies.

Spurs currently have the likes of Victor Wanyama, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier and youngster Harry Winks competing for spots in the middle of the park, but only the inexperienced latter really has the ability to make a difference in the final third.

While Barkley has been offered a new contract by the Toffees with his current deal due to expire this time next year, BBC Football says he has told the club that he won’t be signing it and a summer exit is looking likely unless the Merseyside outfit are willing to risk losing him for nothing next year.

Meanwhile, Seri was one of the stand-out performers for Nice as they secured a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, and he could be a better fit in the Spurs midfield.

Here are three reasons Tottenham should sign Seri instead of Barkley…

Statistics

While Barkley clearly has talent and potential, he endured yet another inconsistent campaign at Goodison Park despite often being deployed in an advanced midfield position behind striker Romelu Lukaku.

The 23-year-old struggled in the early stages of the season but his statistics did improve throughout the campaign and he scored five goals and provided nine assists in 36 Premier League appearances.

Despite playing in a deeper midfield role, Seri outperformed Barkley for Nice last term as he netted seven goals and picked up nine assists for his teammates, creating 73 chances in 34 Ligue 1 matches, while he has started the current campaign in fine form by producing two assists in his side’s two Champions League qualification matches against Ajax, including one from a brilliant back-heel.

Versatility

While Barkley has been played out wide at times, he looks far more comfortable and effective through the middle and his best position is in the attacking midfield role.

Considering Dele Alli currently features there for Tottenham, it would be difficult to see Mauricio Pochettino being able to incorporate both into his starting line-up.

However, the same wouldn’t be said if Spurs signed Seri as he would be able to fill one of the positions taken by Mousa Dembele or Victor Wanyama in the middle of the park as he is able to play in a central or defensive midfield role – as he did in Nice’s first-leg Champions League qualification tie against Ajax last month.

More of a box-to-box player, the 26-year-old loves to get break forward and successfully completed 33 of the 39 take-ons he attempted in 34 Ligue outings last term.

Price tag

The latest reports on BBC Football suggest that Everton still want to secure a £50m fee for Barkley despite the fact that his contract runs out in less than a year’s time, and while that is likely to drop as we get closer to the transfer window slamming shut as the Toffees look to offload him, Tottenham might choose to get their business done earlier elsewhere instead.

Going for Seri – who is rated at €40m (approximately £36m) according to L’Equipe on July 26 – would certainly be a cheaper option for Spurs right now, although the report in the French publication adds that they could face competition from arch-rivals Arsenal for the 26-year-old’s signature.

Do you agree, Spurs fans? Let us know below.