Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly sent an offer of £20m to Burnley for centre-back Maxime Esteve, but the Clarets are holding out for a higher fee.
The Lilywhites have already strengthened an injury-hit backline with the loan acquisition of Kevin Danso from Lens, which will be converted into a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
However, Ange Postecoglou is still said to be keen to add another central option to his ranks before the window shuts at 11pm, and up until now, Chelsea's Axel Disasi was seemingly the number one target.
The Frenchman is currently favouring a move to Aston Villa, though, while Chelsea themselves would prefer to loan him to Tottenham given that the two sides are not in direct competition for Champions League football.
Disasi was not included in the Chelsea squad for their Premier League London derby with West Ham United on Monday evening, suggesting that a deal could still be on the cards, but time is running out.
Burnley 'want £30m' for Tottenham-linked Esteve
© Imago
With no breakthrough imminent in the Disasi situation, L'Equipe claims that Spurs have now switched their focus to Burnley's Esteve and have submitted an offer of £20m for the Frenchman.
Esteve initially joined Burnley on loan from Montpellier in February 2024, and despite not being able to keep the Clarets afloat in the Premier League, his move was made permanent for £10m that same summer.
The 6ft 4in defender has remained a regular for Burnley in the 2024-25 Championship campaign, starting all 30 league matches and helping Scott Parker's side keep a staggering 21 clean sheets.
Burnley are under little pressure to sell Esteve before the 11pm deadline, though, as the 22-year-old is under contract at Turf Moor until the end of the 2028-29 campaign, and the Clarets are therefore after a fee of £30m to let him depart, triple what they paid for him last year.
However, the report adds that the France Under-23 international could look for a 'change of scenery' after a year at Burnley, who sit third in the Championship table as they vie for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Esteve to follow fellow Frenchman to Tottenham?
© Imago
By far and away the Championship's best defensive team with a mere nine goals conceded, Burnley will likely do everything in their power to retain a key cog of that menacing rearguard.
However, should Postecoglou's side stump up the desired fee, Esteve could be one of two Frenchmen to arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on deadline day, as Mathys Tel's move from Bayern Munich is imminent.
The 19-year-old initially said thanks but no thanks to Daniel Levy, only to have a change of heart after Manchester United pulled out of negotiations and Arsenal decided against making an eleventh-hour pursuit.
Tel landed in the UK a few hours ago and is now believed to be completing the formalities of his loan move to Tottenham, who are back in action against Liverpool in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Thursday evening.
Ben Knapton
