Tottenham Hotspur are in pole position to sign Sevilla defender Jules Kounde this summer, according to The Mirror.

The Lowdown: Three-way battle

The Frenchman has become one of La Liga’s most sought-after players following an impressive season at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, and there appears to be a transfer battle emerging for his signature.

Spurs' Premier League rivals Chelsea are also believed to be interested in a move for the 23-year-old, alongside Paris Saint-Germain. However, after a fresh update, the Lilywhites have now reportedly joined the chase, and they seemingly hold a very strong position in the three-horse race for the centre-back.

The Latest: Spurs at the ‘front of the queue’

The Mirror reported that Tottenham have ‘joined the race’ for Kounde, who has a whopping £76m release clause in his contract.

It’s stated that Chelsea were the ‘early favourites’ to secure the France defender, but they have since turned their attention to Kalidou Koulibaly, who is set to be unveiled as a Blues player imminently, meaning that Spurs have now ‘jumped towards the front of the queue’ for Kounde.

The source explains that it’s unlikely that Fabio Paratici ‘will match PSG's financial terms’, although the player might view Antonio Conte’s long-term project as a ‘more intriguing’ opportunity, with reports suggesting that his ‘preference’ would be to join an English top-flight club.

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The Verdict: Conte’s defensive targets

Conte has already made a rapid start to the summer transfer window, bringing Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison and Clement Lenglet to N17, but a second centre-back remains high on his wish list.

The Italian has consistently been linked with the likes of Alessandro Bastoni and Pau Torres over the past few weeks, but with no progress being made on either front, he must now feel that the Sevilla gem is his next-best shot.

Once dubbed an ‘absolute baller’ by Football Espana editor Alan Feehely, Kounde will likely be driven by financial offers to a certain extent, but the fact that Tottenham can now offer Champions League football again could be a huge contributing factor when it comes down to the 23-year-old deciding where his next destination will be.