They've tried for Danny Ings at Burnley, moved for QPR's Charlie Austin and now Tottenham are trying for another non-league poster boy - only this lad's from Italy.
Less than three years ago, Simone Zaza was struggling to get a game with Lega Pro Juve Stabia. Yet now, he's a Serie A star with Sassuolo, a first-choice for Antonio Conte's Italy and has Spurs chairman Daniel Levy eager to whisk him away to London.
And Levy's not alone, with one Italian scout, also boasting experience in England and Switzerland, telling tribalfootball.com before the World Cup that Bayern Munich, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United were all making enquiries with intermediaries for the 23 year-old.
However, with Juventus appearing to have his future locked away, no firm bids were tabled over the summer.
But that's all changed since Zaza penned new terms with Sassuolo last month.
In the previous agreement, Juve had first option on Zaza to the tune of €15 million. But his new deal, which runs to 2019, holds no such clause - which is perhaps why Juve officials met with their Sassuolo counterparts last week.
For many inside Italian football, Zaza is the good news story the nation desperately needed after their World Cup meltdown in Brazil. And Levy's sudden move comes as no surprise.
Standing at 1.87cm, left-sided and boasting a howitzer-type shot, Zaza has been likened to Bobo Vieri, the former Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid centre-forward.
However, our scouting source argues: "He's less powerful than Bobo, but much more agile. He's sharper across the turf. He's good in the air, but with the ball at his feet... that's his strength. That's where people see Vieri in him."
Juve must be kicking themselves having bought him for €3.5 million from Sampdoria in 2013, only to sell 50 per cent of his registration to Sassuolo - where the 23 year-old hasn't looked back.
Giorgio Squinzi, the Sassuolo president, knows they've pulled off an excellent piece of business with this new deal.
"Zaza to Juventus? If Juventus wanted him, they should have paid the money. Now, I look forward to seeing him play for us every Sunday."
Zaza appears in no rush to move on. From his own admission, he started "from the bottom" and appreciates what Sassuolo and their supporters have given him.
"With Sassuolo, life is good and this is very important. The fans are close to me and there is not the pressure that you have at a big club. I'm happy to play for this team."
Having been scouted and recruited by Atalanta as a junior player, by his own admission, Zaza didn't realise how fortunate he was to find himself at one of Europe's best run academies.
"I have been lucky in my career, but I believe I've also done well to make the most of my opportunities.
"With Atalanta, I was not ready, I decided to start from the bottom and go up and this has shaped my character, it was the right choice."
Like Ings and Austin in England, that same energy and drive which flows from Zaza whenever he takes the pitch.
"I have to improve a lot, from all points of view," Zaza says, when batting away praise.
"Especially with my heading, in view my height I must do better.
"Also I need to do better on the right-side of my body. I will continue to work hard to complete my game."
Despite Squinzi's confidence, Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco recognises they're on borrowed time when it comes to counting on Zaza.
The former AS Roma and Italy midfielder has played a huge role in Zaza's emergence and has worked hard with the striker on how to handle the increased expectations of being an Azzurri player.
"The first time he came back from the national team, I found him mentally drained. He had lost energy - both physically and psychologically," recalled Di Francesco, who won 12 caps with Italy.
"Now I find him peaceful. He has great quality if you can have his teammates playing close to him."
Like the player, himself, Di Francesco admits there's still rough edges Zaza needs to polish.
"He must eliminate some of the individual things he tries. He needs greater consistency.
"But, certainly, he should aspire to play for a big club."
The last word can go to super agent, Mino Raiola, who counts Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli among his clients.
"Zaza has talent. In fact, he has extraordinary technical qualities and great room for improvement."
Talented, driven and with a big sell-on value. Just the type of transfer Spurs and Levy appreciates...