Tottenham Hotspur are facing increasing competition for one of their mooted long-term transfer targets this summer...

What's the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the likes of AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund have entered the race to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer ahead of the new season.

The 27-year-old playmaker has long been admired by Spurs and only a few months ago, the reliable Alasdair Gold told fans on football.london that he expects the club to compete for his signature.

Previously, the 54-cap Austria international was valued in the region of €50m (£42.5m) but it's thought that as little as €15m (£12.5m) should be enough to tempt the Bundesliga sie into a sale this window as he enters the final year of his current contract, as per The Athletic.

Time to strike

If Fabio Paratici wants to kickstart his reign in North London with a bang, then he needs to land a player of Sabitzer's calibre.

Since the start of the 2019/20 season, the Leipzig talisman has provided 25 goals and 18 assists across all competitions, helping the German side genuinely challenge Bayern Munich for the title.

He has averaged a direct goal contribution every 151 minutes, which far exceeds the players that Nuno Santo will have in the role next term.

For example, both Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele have been at Spurs in the very same time frame but neither are close to matching such returns.

The Argentine, signed as a potential replacement for Christian Eriksen, manages a goal or assist every 334 minutes, whilst the Frenchman has delivered a goal contribution once every 267 minutes.

Described as a 'mentality monster' with a "remarkable" personality, as well as a "goal threat", he could be the sort of statement signing that Spurs need to win fans back over, especially after many protested against the club's board towards the end of last season.

Sabitzer has even earned some lofty comparisons and one that should appeal greatly to the Lilywhite faithful.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Bundesliga expert Daniel Pinder lauded the £26m-rated dynamo's qualities and said:

"I think he’d bring a lot to Tottenham. He’s very similar to Eriksen, he’s that sort of player that Spurs have been missing in midfield."

Given the mounting interest in his signature, Paratici will have to act quickly but in doing so, Nuno would be getting an exciting player to build his attack around and that has to be a mouthwatering prospect next term.

AND in other news, Nuno Santo and Spurs handed timely financial boost, reveals Alasdair Gold...