Tottenham Hotspur could be preparing for life after Tanguy Ndombele if emerging reports are to be believed...

What's the word?

According to Sky Sports, Spurs are targeting a move for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar before next week's transfer deadline and have already held tentative talks with the player's representatives.

The 23-year-old has two years to run on his current deal but will weigh up his options before making a decision on his future.

Interest in the Frenchman, who featured at the U21 European Championships earlier this year, should come as no surprise as the Lilywhites' new sporting director Fabio Paratici held an interest in signing him whilst at Juventus.

"Paratici has always been in love with this player," revealed Fabrizio Romano earlier this month.

It remains to be seen exactly how much Aouar would command, especially with less than a week to go before deadline day, though ESPN believe he could be available for a fee in the region of €25m (£21.5m).

Move on Ndombele

It's also thought that the club are now prepared to offload Aouar's former teammate after he requested to leave the club recently, so it would make sense to find someone fit to play a similar role.

And that has to be the Lyon star.

Last season he contributed eight goals and four assists, whilst a year earlier, he provided nine goals and ten assists as the French outfit made an impressive run in the Champions League. In total, Aouar has made a direct goal contribution every 196 minutes, as per Transfermarkt.

It's this sort of creativity and goal threat from midfield that has been lacking at Spurs, even when Ndombele has been featuring. By comparison, his fellow countryman has only contributed towards 16 goals at a rate of one every 267 minutes since arriving in a club-record £55m deal.

Spurs should certainly look to move him on and Aouar, who can play in the no.8 and no.10 role, would be a perfect successor in north London.

The £26m-rated dynamo has been compared to Spain great Andres Iniesta in terms of playing style and an average of two key passes and an 86.8% passing accuracy last season would certainly reinforce that view.

"I'm a big fan of Aouar. I've often likened him to Andres Iniesta, which is obviously a big shout because, for me, he is one of the greatest players of all-time," claimed Ligue 1 expert Adam White to Football FanCast.

"I don't necessarily mean in quality but in style. He has silky movement and drifts in midfield to pick passes. At his best, he is absolutely brilliant to watch and he can play anywhere in midfield. He's great on the ball and technically outstanding. His vision is brilliant. He's a huge talent."

Paratici must consider axing Ndombele in favour of signing the promising French gem. It would be an outstanding piece of business for less than £25m - a real bargain in comparison to that club-record fee.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Alli: Spurs must secure £22.5m-rated prodigy who's "like a young Pogba"...