Real Madrid are biding their time before a deadline day swoop for Kylian Mbappe, according to a report in Spain, with president Florentino Perez looking to take advantage of Paris Saint-Germain's inflated wage bill after signing Lionel Messi.
Perez has a habit of making audacious signings on deadline day, such as plucking World Cup Golden Boot winner Ronaldo Nazario from Inter Milan in 2002 or snapping up Sergio Ramos in 2005 following a bitter wrangle with Sevilla.
Tottenham are well aware of the Madrid's chief knack for getting late deals done, too, after Real signed Luka Modric in 2012 and Gareth Bale in 2013 on deadline day after weeks of tough negotiations with chairman Daniel Levy.