Spurs rival Villa in three-way chase for Ligue 1 midfield ace - reports

Highly rated Lyon midfielder Miralem Pjanic has become the subject of a three-way battle between Tottenham, Aston Villa and Lazio according to talkSPORT.

The 21-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international attracted rave reviews for a number of fine performances in Ligue 1 last season, and as such has commanded interest from a number of clubs in England and Italy.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was the leading contender for Pjanic's signature, having reportedly earmarked the player as a ready-made replacement for Tottenham's want-away midfielder Luka Modric, who could still leave White Hart Lane this summer.

Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest in the promising youngster, as manager Alex McLeish widens his search for Villa Park replacements for Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, who left for Manchester United and Liverpool earlier this summer.




However, both Tottenham and Villa could now face competition for Pjanic's signature from a third party in the form of Lazio, after reports in the Italian press suggested the Serie A outfit are planning a bid.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito is determined to sign several big-name players before the transfer window closes at the end of August, confirming:

"We are looking at several foreign players. We are hoping that some surprises that can happen before August 31."