Southampton are desperate not to lose head of recruitment Paul Mitchell to Tottenham.
The Daily Mail says Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who admitted he was under massive pressure to change the culture at the club after Sunday's defeat, is in favour of the move for Mitchell.
Southampton are second in the Barclays Premier League after an extraordinary start to the season under new coach Ronald Koeman.
They will fight to keep Mitchell, a former professional player with Wigan and MK Dons, on the south coast despite Tottenham's advances.
Mitchell, 33, travels the world for Southampton and is credited with the majority of incoming transfers since his arrival at the club two years ago.
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