Tottenham football chief Franco Baldini is working on a deal for Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez.
Baldini knows he is under scrutiny with Spurs having made a terrible start to the season.
Spurs are in a three-way fight for £20m-rated forward Rodriguez, who is closing in on a return from a serious knee injury.
Champions Manchester City and last season's runners up Liverpool are also interested.
But Southampton are also trying to persuade Rodriguez to sign a new five-year deal.
Baldini believes seeing off City and Liverpool and striking a deal with Saints will go some way to silencing concerns inside White Hart Lane about his suitability for the job, says the Daily Star.
