Watford have started talks with Tottenham over a deal to sign French midfielder Moussa Sissoko this summer.

Sissoko is on the transfer list at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and is yet to play a minute under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo, failing to make the matchday squad for three of the club’s four matches so far this year.

Spurs are hopeful of finding a buyer before the transfer window closes, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Watford are in talks over a deal to bring the Frenchman to Vicarage Road in the coming days.

An agreement is seen as ‚possible‘ as everyone involved hopes to find a solution before the transfer window closes on August 31.

Sissoko had initially been tipped to join Fenerbahce, who wanted the 32-year-old as a replacement for new Watford signing Ozan Tufan, but sources have confirmed to 90min that the Hornets have made extra space in their midfield by agreeing to sell Will Hughes to Crystal Palace.

Hughes, who has entered the last 12 months of his contract at Vicarage Road, is set to earn Watford around £6m initially, with the fee potentially rising to closer to £10m through add-ons.

Those in charge at the club have decided to try re-invest that money in Sissoko, who comes with eight years of Premier League experience.

With Harry Kane’s future wrapped up, Spurs‘ focus is now on offloading the fringe players in the squad.

Right-back Serge Aurier is on the chopping block and has been identified by Lille as a potential replacement for Zeki Celik, whom the French side hope to keep amid interest from Fiorentina.

The biggest drama at the club now is the future of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, who is keen to leave after two tumultuous seasons at the club.

Spurs are looking for a solution to the situation but will be reluctant to let Ndombele go cheaply. He still has four years remaining on the contract he signed following his £55m move to the club in 2019, so chairman Daniel Levy will be determined to get that money back.