On Friday, Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Nuno Espírito Santo is in ‘advanced’ talks with Tottenham Hotspur and is ‘very close’ to taking the managerial job at the north London club.
It was also stated the former Wolves coach has identified Sevilla star Jules Koundé as his ‘first target’ for Tottenham.
Spurs’ interest in the centre-back is backed up by ABC, and they say the Premier League side ‘want’ the 22-year-old. This is also relayed in Saturday’s edition of the Spanish newspaper as they state Tottenham have ‘bid for him’.
It’s claimed an international intermediary has probed the defender’s price on behalf of several clubs, but an official offer hasn’t reached the offices of the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
The intermediary has suggested Real Madrid are prepared to pay €50m for Koundé, if Raphaël Varane is sold this summer.
ABC state the France international’s desire is to join Los Blancos and he’s communicated the same to his national teammates, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé.
Sevilla want to do ‘good business’ with the player and are asking suitors to pay his €80m release clause.
Real Madrid will never match this figure. Julen Lopetegui’s interest in Isco could help the two clubs consider a player-plus-cash operation, but the Spaniard’s €6m annual salary has become an issue for Sevilla. 
After Gianluca Di Marzio, ABC are the second source to claim Tottenham ‘want’ Koundé. It remains to be seen which club will look to come close to Sevilla’s asking price.
