Tottenham Hotspur have made an offer to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona, according to a report.
The North London outfit are understood to be interested in pinching the playmaker from under the noses of local rivals Arsenal, who were rumoured to have agreed terms with Coutinho earlier this afternoon.
The 27-year-old worked with Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol and the Argentine is reportedly eager to be reunited with the Brazilian.
According to The Times, Barcelona are demanding £21m for the midfielder's services on a temporary basis.
With Christian Eriksen likely to leave the club by next summer at the latest, Tottenham have been eager to sign a new attacking midfielder to replace the Dane.
Giovani Lo Celso and Bruno Fernandes had been seen as the most likely candidates to replace Eriksen, prior to Coutinho emerging as a serious possibility.
Eriksen's contract is due to expire in 2020 and Tottenham are actively trying to offload the 27-year-old to avoid losing him for free next year, with Manchester United and Real Madrid thought to be his most likely destinations.
