Veloso to Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur are readying a late move for Sporting star Miguel Veloso, according to reports. The Guardian claims that Spurs boss Juande Ramos has pegged Veloso to anchor a midfield which has proved somewhat porous in the opening weeks of the Premier League season. The North London club have spent most of the summer increasing their attacking and creative options, bringing in Luka Modric, David Bentley, Giovani Dos Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko, whose £12million switch from Spartak Moscow is all but complete. But the Lilywhites remain suspect on the defensive end, having conceded four goals in two games, and many are pointing the finger at their lack of steel in the centre of the park. Veloso would go along way toward solving that problem, as he is widely regarded as one of the best young holding players in Europe. The Portuguese international will not come cheap, however, as Sporting have shown they are reluctant to let any of their current crop of youngsters leave - at least not for anything less than top dollar. Everton have learned that the hard way, as their desperate attempt to prise Joao Moutinho from the Estadio Alvalade continues to be foiled by the £20million price-tag. But Spurs have had no problem splashing the cash this summer and may well be willing to pay whatever it takes to bring Veloso to White Hart Lane. Ramos and co will have to act fast though, as the transfer window closes on Monday and they are still thought to be haggling with Zenit St Petersburg over Andrei Arshavin.