Real Betis are close to signing Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir in a €25 million (£22.6m) deal as a replacement for Tottenham target Giovani Lo Celso.
Fekir, who was on the verge of joining Liverpool last summer before a move collapsed over concerns over an old knee problem, has just one year left on his contract at the Ligue 1 club and is expected to complete a transfer to Betis in the coming days.
Betis and Lyon continue to negotiate the fee for the France international, who turns 26 on Thursday, and his imminent departure will mean Lo Celso is free to leave the Seville-based club.
Standard Sport understands Lo Celso has told Betis he wants to play Champions League football and is keen to link up with compatriot Mauricio Pochettino in north London.
But Spurs face competition from Benfica for the 23-year-old, with the Portuguese giants looking to replace their teenage sensation Joao Felix, who recently moved to Atletico Madrid for €120m.
Betis want €75m for Lo Celso, but Tottenham have not reached that valuation yet and a move to Spurs could depend on Christian Eriksen, with the Dane interesting Real Madrid and also Atletico this summer.
