Mauricio Pochettino confirms Tottenham Hotspur are tracking Michy Batshuayi and Samuel Umtiti

Mauricio Pochettino has admitted Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing Ligue 1 duo Michy Batshuayi and Samuel Umtiti as the club build towards another Premier League title challenge next year. Following a disappointing 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane on Monday (25 April), second-place Spurs are now highly unlikely to overhaul leaders Leicester City's seven-point advantage, with just three matches left to play this term.

However, the solid foundations put in place over recent months should ensure that a vastly improved team remain contenders both next season and beyond. New additions in the transfer market will be vital to maintaining that status, with the acquisition of a striker high on the agenda to provide improved competition and support for 24-goal Harry Kane.

Tottenham's interest in Batshuayi has long featured in gossip columns, although any hopes of signing him looked to have been dashed in January when he committed his future to current club Marseille by signing a new contract until 2020. West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has also spoken in admiration of the 22-year-old Belgium international, and Pochettino is realistic about the number of suitors likely to be chasing his signature in the very near future.

"We are looking for a striker this summer," he told French radio station RMC. "Batshuayi is a young player who has a lot of talent. He is logically followed by many clubs. We have information about him, he has good potential. Then we will see, we also have other players in our sights."

Reports from The Mirror yesterday (26 April) also suggested Spurs are targeting versatile Lyon defender Umtiti, amid widespread interest in the former French U-21 centre-back from the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, said to have increased his asking price to approximately £20m ($29.2m).

On that subject, Pochettino added: "Umtiti is one of the players that our recruitment department is following. He has interesting potential."