Tottenham set to make move for Michy Batshuayi after giving up on Christian Benteke

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a move for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi after conceding defeat in the race to sign Christian Benteke from Aston Villa, according to the Mirror.

The 21-year-old is highly rated in France and would become the second Belgian to join the club this summer after Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid earlier this month. A £9m ($14m) fee is being touted for his signature, a good investment which will hand Tottenham a promising player for the future and also alleviate their problems up front in the short term.

The striker has scored 11 goals in all competition last season, a tally which is likely to increase amid a better selection of players at White Hart Lane. He will be the fifth Belgian to play for the side should the move go through, alongside Moussa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen, Nacer Chadli and Alderweireld, allowing manager Mauricio Pochettino to build on the existing harmony in the squad.

Pochettino is looking to build a young squad who can challenge for a place in the top-four next season and is ready to spend the requisite funds to bring their dream into fruition.

Spurs were actively looking at completing a deal with Villa for Benteke, but with the Villans unwilling to budge on their £32.5m ($50m) valuation of the player, chairman Daniel Levy has asked his manager to look at other options.Tottenham were willing to send Emmanuel Adebayor the other way in part exchange for Benteke, according to the Independent.

Liverpool are currently favourites for this signature, with the Sun reporting that Manchester United have entered the race for the player.

Additionally, the Mirror reported that Tottenham are also looking at concluding deals with Everton for James McCarthy and Kevin Mirallas, allowing Aaron Lennon to go the other way, where he impressed manager Roberto Martinez on a season long loan.

The former Wigan midfielder will add some much needed steel in the midfield following the departure of Etienne Capoue, who transferred to Watford this summer.