The 24-year-old midfielder, who is currently at the FIFA Confederations Cup with Brazil, is said to be one of Tottenham's key transfer targets.

And the box-to-box midfielder has a reported release clause of £17 million, which the White Hart Lane club appear willing to meet.

Corinthians director of football Edu, a former Arsenal midfielder, said that a deal was close to being sealed.

When quizzed about Tottenham's interest in the player, Edu told UOL: "The situation is well under way.

"We have to agree on some details of the negotiations, so I can't say if he will leave yet, but the negotiations are going well."