Tottenham eyeing Geoffrey Kondogbia despite apparent Valencia agreement

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Valencia midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia and are weighing up a move for the Frenchman as they scour the market for an adequate long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele, who has been troubled by injuries in recent months.

Kondogbia has enjoyed something of a career revival since joining Valencia on a season-long loan from high-flying Inter Milan, where he languished for two seasons. The former Monaco star has been pivotal to Marcelino's side's emergence as unlikely title contenders, striking a strong partnership with Dani Parejo at the base of Los Che's midfield.

Tottenham have long admired Kondogbia and have scouted the five-time France international on a number of occasions this season, according to Sky Sports. Mauricio Pochettino's side have had to make do without Victor Wanyama for much of the campaign after the Kenya international suffered a troublesome knee problem that has kept him sidelined for around three months, while Dembele, who has around 18 months left to run on his current contract, has been hampered by a nagging foot problem.

The Belgium international has proved to be a hugely influential figure for Tottenham since joining from Fulham in the summer of 2012 but does not seem to be able to play more once a week due to his fitness concerns, which show no signs of subsiding.

With Harry Winks still learning his trade, Moussa Sissoko failing to convince despite improving upon last season and Eric Dier preferred in defence by Pochettino, a new holding midfielder could well be of high importance in the January or summer transfer windows. But Kondogbia may soon be out of reach if Valencia decide to take up their option to buy the 24-year-old from Inter, who went top of Serie A with a 5-0 win over Chievo on Sunday (3 December).

Marcelino's men have the option to buy Kondogbia for €25m (£21.9m, $29.5m) at the end of the season, and club director Mateo Alemany recently revealed that the six-time La Liga winners have already discussed terms with the Frenchman over a permanent switch.

"We have a right to buy at the end of the season and already have an agreement with Kondogbia should we exercise the option," Alemamy was quoted as saying by Football Italia.