Tottenham On Brink Of €15m Deal for Croatian Prodigy Halilovic - Report

Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of making their fifth signing of the summer as reports suggest the club have agreed a €15m deal with Dinamo Zagreb for Alen Halilovic.

The 17-year-old playmaker has garnered a reputation as one of the most promising young talents currently plying his trade in Europe, having already made 20 appearances for his club and been capped at senior international level for Croatia.

Tottenham attempted to secure a deal for both Halilovic and his then-Dinamo team-mate Tin Jedvaj earlier this summer but the latter, who operates as a central defender, has since joined Roma.

Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti now suggests Tottenham are closing in on a deal for the playmaker who has been likened to Luka Modric.

According to Sportske, Hailivovic's father Sead was in England over the weekend as Alen's younger brother Dino participated in the Nike Premier Cup, an Under-15 competition hosted by Manchester United which Dinamo Zagreb's young starlets won.

It is suggested Sead met with Tottenham officials during his time in the country in a bid to ease his concerns about his prodigious son leaving Zagreb so early in his career.

There is also a suggestion that Halilovic could be loaned back to his hometown club should Tottenham agree terms with the teenager and his representatives.

Halilovic's burgeoning reputation was enhanced last season when he made 18 first team appearances for Dinamo, making his debut against Hadjuk Split, in the 'eternal derby', the biggest derby game in Croatian football.

The teenager also made his Champions League bow last campaign against Paris Saint Germain, a feat which saw him become the second youngest player ever to appear in the tournament.

While the future of Gareth Bale remains in the balance, Tottenham have impressively added to their squad ahead of this weekend's season opener against Crystal Palace. Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Roberto Soldado have been added to the ranks and look likely to be joined by France international Etienne Capoue who appears to be on the brink of a move to the club, subject to a medical.

Paulinho and Soldado could be in line to make their club debuts at Selhurst Park this Sunday after appearing against Espanyol in a pre-season friendly last Saturday, where the Spaniard scored from the penalty spot.