Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move for Southampton star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The skipper is out of contract next summer, and has not shown signs of renewing.

That means he would leave on a free in a year's time.

The Daily Star says Southampton have given Tottenham the green light to make a move.

Chief executive Martin Semmens recently said a deal was doable, with Spurs hoping to pay less than the £35 million Southampton wanted in January.

Semmens said, per the Star: "Let's be clear about Pierre, he's been absolutely up front with us and everybody publicly that he sees himself at the very highest level of football.

"He wants to win the league, he wants to win the Champions League either with us or somebody else and at some point he's going to either have to drive us to that level or move somewhere else to do it.

"If there's a club out there that can win the Champions League and they think Pierre can improve their team, if they can pay for him then, in the end, we have to let him go."

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl also said earlier this week: "We must look at what we have. I think we should avoid letting players go without a transfer fee. This is what we should avoid."