Tottenham Hotspur are preparing an audacious swoop for Arsenal transfer target Miguel Veloso at Sporting Lisbon, according to the Guardian.

22-year-old Veloso had been heavily linked with a move to the Gunners this summer and also attracted attention from Premiership Champions Manchester United, but reports now suggest that Spurs boss Juande Ramos is keen to add the Portuguese International to his midfield at White Hart Lane.

Spurs have spent much of their summer strengthening in attack, with the signings of Luka Modric, Giovanni Dos Santos, David Bentley and the imminent arrival of Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow.

Ramos however, feels the need to strengthen a weak midfield now and sees defensive midfielder Veloso as the solution to his problems in the heart of midfield. With Ivory Coast International Didier Zokora not up to the role in the mind of the Spaniard.

It will take a sizeable fee to land Veloso though, with the midfielder complaining earlier in the summer about being priced out of a move away from the Estadio Jose Alvade. With it being reported in the press that Sporting value the player at around £25million (€31m).