Tottenham Hotspur are 'in the running' to sign Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar but face some elite competition, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move?

The Nerazzurri defender has been a transfer target for Spurs over the course of 2022 with claims stating that sporting director Fabio Paratici and co are interested in his signing.

Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte appears to be keen on a central defender ahead of the January window as links surround the likes of Alessandro Bastoni also.

The Premier League top-four chasers have conceded more goals than any team chasing Champions League qualification with 11 leaked in their last five.

This could back their need for defensive additions with an update emerging on their links to Skriniar.

The Latest: Spurs 'in the running' for Skriniar...

The Slovakia international could leave for free in 2023 as his contract is set to expire at the end of this season.

If Inter can't agree fresh terms, they face the daunting proposition of either losing him for nothing in the summer or selling on for a cheap fee next month.

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Calciomercato.it state Spurs, and by extension club chief Paratici, are 'in the running' to sign Skriniar but face stern competition from European heavyweights Real Madrid, PSG and Chelsea.

The Verdict: Perfect player for Spurs?

Called a 'monster' by members of the Italian media, ex-goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has also claimed that Skriniar is 'perfect' for Tottenham.

The 27-year-old is an elite ball-playing defender, averaging a higher pass accuracy (92.1%) than anyone in Simone Inzaghi's side whilst totalling their highest rate of blocks per 90 also (WhoScored).

Skriniar is a centre-half of real pedigree and the fact his contract expires in 2023 could make him available for a lesser fee than usually expected.

It's a move that must be considered by Spurs as they attempt to support Conte on the field.