Tottenham are pushing to close a deal for Southampton defender Dejan Lovren.

The Daily Star Sunday says new Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino wants Lovren, who has been capped 28 times by his country.

And the canny Argentine is hoping his relationship with the player from their time together at St Mary's will be the key to keep him out of Liverpool's clutches.

Kop boss Brendan Rodgers wants Lovren to bolster his leaky back line.

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