Tottenham Hotspur are plotting an audacious move for a striker who finished as the second top scorer in the Premier League last term behind Erling Haaland.

Spurs prioritised signing Premier League-proven players in the summer, and it remains to be seen if their transfer strategy will change in January as the Lilywhites go in search of a new number nine.

A couple of Premier League strikers have already been mooted as targets for the North London club over recent weeks.

Tottenham are reportedly keeping an eye on the situation of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who wants to leave Crystal Palace, while some sources indicate that Spurs’ interest in Eli Junior Kroupi has not gone away.

A new report has now claimed that De Zerbi’s men are also eyeing a move for an experienced striker, who comfortably outscored both Mateta and Kroupi last season.

Tottenham eyeing audacious move for Brentford’s Igor Thiago

According to 4-4-2, Tottenham have now set their sights on Igor Thiago, who ended last season as the Premier League’s second top scorer with 22 goals.

The report says that both Spurs and Aston Villa are keeping a close eye on the Brentford star’s situation, with both clubs wanting to add a number nine who can bring goal threat and dominate the box.

However, the two Premier League clubs are not alone in their interest in Thiago, with the player also on the radar of a European giant.

It is revealed that Atletico Madrid are fans of the 25-year-old and have identified him as a potential replacement for Julian Alvarez.

The report also points out that Nottingham Forest already had a €70m (£58.6m) offer rejected for the Brazilian international during the summer window.

Tottenham must break the bank to land Thiago in January

4-4-2 explain that Brentford have no interest in weakening their core mid-season, given the exceptional start they have made to the new campaign.

They are planning to retain Thiago and are in a strong position to do so since the centre-forward is contracted to the club until June of 2031.

The report asserts that the Bees would only consider offers in the region of €80m to €90m (£67m-£75.4m) for their star striker in January.

That would still likely make him cheaper than Kroupi, who is reportedly valued at £85m by Bournemouth.