Tottenham agree deals to sign Dembele and Lloris

Tottenham Hotspur are to sign Moussa Dembele after on Tuesday agreeing a fee of pounds 15 million with Fulham. A deal could be announced as early as today (Wednesday).

Negotiations to acquire the 25-year-old Belgian international are at an extremely advanced stage although Spurs' hopes of signing another attacking midfielder, Shakhtar Donetsk's Willian, have stalled after the club, again, failed to agree a fee despite chairman Daniel Levy having flown to Ukraine for negotiations.

Spurs have also been frustrated in a fresh attempt to sign Joao Moutinho with Porto refusing to budge on their 30m euro (pounds 24 million) valuation on the midfielder who is so highly rated by head coach Andre Villas-Boas.

The Portuguese is understood to regard his countryman as the ideal replacement for Luka Modric - not in style but in influence on the team - who was finally sold earlier this week to Real Madrid for a fee that could rise to pounds 33m.

As part of that deal, Spurs signed a commercial tie up with Real which will include young players being loaned between the clubs and also the prospect of exhibition matches being played. The sale of Modric has also unlocked transfer funds for Spurs who are set to be the Premier League's busiest club before the transfer window closes on Friday night.

Although Spurs gave up on trying to sign Moutinho - in public at least - Villas-Boas has remained hopeful that a deal could still be struck for the midfielder who was so vital to him when he was Porto coach and who he tried to take to Chelsea with him.

The signing of Dembele will end a year-long pursuit by Spurs for the player who has made a significant impact on the Premier League since he was signed by the then manager Mark Hughes by Fulham in 2010 for just pounds 3.2m from AZ Alkmaar and who has also attracted strong interest from Manchester United.

Dembele is believed to have a pounds 15m release clause in his contract and Spurs have now activated that. Spurs remain desperate to offload fringe players such as David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas but must concentrate on strengthening the squad after Modric's sale.

It is hoped Dembele will be available for Saturday's Premier League match at home to Norwich City.

Shakhtar announced on Monday that they had rejected a bid of pounds 11.8m for Willian, the Brazilian international, but talks are ongoing between the clubs. Although the Ukrainians insist they want pounds 20m for the player, Spurs believe that an offer of around pounds 15m would be successful although they are yet to submit an improved bid.

Spurs have also been frustrated in their attempts to sign another Brazilian, striker Leandro Damiao, with his club, Internacional, insisting they want the 23-year-old to stay for now after their valuation wasn't met. A bid for the French midfielder Yann M'Vila was rejected by Rennes earlier this month and is unlikely to be revived.

Spurs have agreed a fee for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris but only after Lyon reduced their demands for the France captain because they want him to leave. Lyon will now accept pounds 12m for Lloris and although personal terms are yet to be agreed, the deal is expected to go ahead.

Lloris's arrival will prompt Spurs to seek a buyer for Heurelho Gomes who has failed to convince Villas-Boas that he can challenge Brad Friedel as the club's first-choice goalkeeper.