Transfer: Tottenham Hotspur set to sign Coutinho ahead of Arsenal -

Tottenham Hotspur have thrown their hat into the ring to sign Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho on loan, ahead of North London rivals Arsenal, the UK Mirror reports.

Spurs manaer, Mauricio Pochettino, is keen to add the Brazilian to his new-look midfield, after the player’s representatives began contacting Premier League clubs to see if they were interested.

Pochettino worked briefly with Coutinho, when the 27-year-old was on loan at Espanyol.

With interest across Europe in the player and his £200,000-a-week wages, Spurs know they are underdogs in the race to sign him but are hopeful of pulling off a coup.

Success with the Coutinho deal would be another of chairman Daniel Levy’s trademark end-of-window triumphs.