Danny Ings is reportedly stalling on a new contract at Southampton as he wants Champions League football, with Spurs waiting in the wings for the striker.
The Southampton striker has been one of the Premier League's top performers in the last few seasons since moving to the South Coast, initially joining on loan in 2018.
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Last season was the best of his career, as he bagged 22 goals in the league, and helped Ralph Hassenhutl's side avoid relegation after an awful start to the season, where they won just two of their opening 12 games.
His form this season has helped the Saints into the top 10 and just five points off the top four, a place the England striker clearly wants to be.
According to the Telegraph, there's a new contract on the table for the 28-year-old at St Mary's but he's so far refused to sign it. The striker reportedly wants Champions League football, with his deal ending in 18 months.
That has obviously led to talk he could leave the club and, according to Eurosport, Spurs are monitoring the situation ahead of a potential move for him in the summer.
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The report explains that the north London club wanted Ings last summer, as they looked for cover for Harry Kane, but the former Burnley forward wanted to stay at Southampton.
Jose Mourinho instead decided to sign Carlos Vinicius on a year long loan, with the Benfica man having scored six goals in 11 appearances in all competitions.
They will now wait to see if Ings delay on signing his deal is a genuine attempt at trying to force a move, as the Saints would have to sell in the summer or risk losing him for free the following season.
Following the side's win over Shrewsbury on Tuesday in the FA Cup, in which Ings was rested, Hasenhuttl seemed to confirm that his striker wants to play in Europe's elite competition.
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On his striker, the manager said, "I think if he wants Champions League football, he scores 10 or 12 more goals we can get there. Not impossible."
The former Bournemouth player has actually made four appearance in UEFA's top club competition in the past when he was a Liverpool player.
Jurgen Klopp's side are owed a percentage of the sell on fee, should Southampton sell, so in theory he could cost the Premier League champions less than their rivals, if they wanted to bring him back to Anfield.
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