After a promising start to the transfer window, it's gone a bit quiet at Tottenham Hotspur, though that could soon change...

What's the word?

Spurs have brought in no fewer than four new players, the first two were free transfers in the form of Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster before the north London outfit opened the chequebook to seal proven Premier League talent in Yves Bissouma and Richarlison.

Now it seems as if they are targeting another big-money swoop, this time for a central defender - at least according to talkSPORT's transfer expert Alex Crook, who believed the claim to GIVEMESPORT this week.

“I think it’s a centre-back they want because he wants to play with a back three with Djed Spence and Perisic might play as a left wing-back.

“So, I think the bulk of the cash will go on a central defender.

"We know that Fabio Paratici has been meeting various agents in Italy, so I would imagine it would be a centre-back from Serie A, possibly one of the names we’ve heard about already.”

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Exciting claim

The Lilywhites have been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign a new left-sided centre-back thus far, and that is largely due to main target Alessandro Bastoni's desire to remain at Inter Milan.

He quickly appeared as a key target for manager Antonio Conte, with the pair working together during the Italian's time at the San Siro, where they won the club's first Serie A title in 11 years back in 2020.

RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol is another key target for Spurs but could also be out of reach. He is very happy in the Bundesliga and his asking price could be absurd, given he's under contract until 2026.

Some other names that the club have been linked to include Gleison Bremer of Torino, Villarreal's Pau Torres, FC Barcelona's Clement Lenglet and Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace, as per football.london.

Whilst it remains to be seen exactly who Spurs will secure, what is clear is their intention, with Paratici meeting with agents as the first team begin training for the new campaign.

The north Londoners' hierarchy are evidently prepared to back their manager this pre-season, so it is only a matter of time before that new centre-back is at Hotspur Way.

Not only should Conte be delighted by this news but the supporters around N17 will surely be absolutely buzzing as the club are not done yet in the transfer market.

AND in other news, Spurs can unearth their new Son & Kane as Paratici plots bid for 28-goal "boy wonder"...