Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up their first January signing, according to emerging reports...

What's the word?

90min claim that the north London outfit are among the teams interested in a move for Inter Milan midfielder Stefano Sensi this month.

The club are said to be working hard on bolstering Antonio Conte's playing squad and the 26-year-old has emerged as a viable candidate for a loan move before the January 31st deadline.

Sensi's stint at the San Siro has been blighted by injury but he's a player that the Italian head coach knows well from his time there and it is thought that Conte is a big admirer of his, too.

The eight-cap Italy international is currently valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt.

Conte's new Pirlo?

Despite standing at a diminutive 5 foot 6 inches, Sensi has earned huge comparisons to that of Juventus legend Andrea Pirlo, due to him being deployed in a similar deep-lying playmaker role.

Meanwhile, the Italian himself claims that Xavi has been a major source of influence on his career. "I have always loved him. If I ever met him, I would tell him that he has always been my idol and that his plays have enlightened me. I have watched all of his games," he revealed in a matchday programme against Fiorentina (via Sempre Inter).

"He is good, technical, fast and also has personality," once claimed Gil Azzurri head coach Roberto Mancini to La Gazetta dello Sport.

WhoScored lists Sensi's key abilities as being his chance creation through key passes, his passing ability overall - particularly with slotting in through balls - and his defensive capability to win the ball back through interceptions.

Indeed, throughout his time in Italy, having also played for Sassuolo, the 26-year-old dynamo has averaged 1.9 key passes and 1.5 interceptions, as well as an 87.1% passing accuracy per 90 minutes.

Conte utilised Pirlo to great effect during his time in Turin, particularly the 2013/14 title-winning season, when the veteran featured regularly from a deep-midfield position as he dictated many a game.

Sensi can fit this mould over in north London.

Former Sassuolo head coach Roberto De Zerbi claimed that the 26-year-old "could control a game like Xavi, but instead he reminds me of Andres Iniesta", whilst Spanish journalist David de la Pena described his technique as "crazy" as he "knows how to dribble and how to shoot".

On the above evidence, Sensi would surely be a welcome addition at Spurs, so sporting director Fabio Paratici would be wise to push ahead with plans to sign him this month. He could well hand Conte another Pirlo-like beast in midfield.

AND in other news, Sky Sports reporter drops huge Spurs transfer claim live on air, fans will be buzzing...