Transfer Talk: Tottenham Hotspur eye a Liverpool target as Reds identify a Gerrard replacement

Spurs and Liverpool look set to slug it out for the signature of a highly-touted French international.

Tottenham are preparing to join Liverpool in the race to sign French sharpshooter Alexandre Lacazette, according to the Express.  Lacazette's contract doesn't expire until 2018, but it is Spurs that are reportedly willing to splash the cash in order acquire the 23-year-old ahead of Liverpool. It is rumoured that the club are willing to sell both Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor to fund a transfer for the Lyon forward. The France international has been in stellar form for Lyon this season, helping them make a surprise push for the Ligue 1 title ahead of favourites Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain. He has found the net a remarkable 25 times in 30 league appearances for his club, meaning that he should have plenty of suitors to choose from if he wishes to leave. The Daily Mirror are claiming that Liverpool have turned their attention to William Carvalho as a potential replacement for Steven Gerrard after their initial target was declared a lost cause. Gerrard is leaving at the end of the season to join LA Galaxy in the MLS. The Reds were linked with AS Roma £37 million-rated Miralem Pjanic to replace their club captain but the Serie A outfit's owners insist the Bosnian is not for sale. The Portuguese starlet Carvalho has been in superb form for Sporting Lisbon this season and at 22, could be a long-term replacement for the large, Gerrard-shaped void in the Liverpool squad next from next season onwards. Arsene Wenger might be getting ready to spend big on a top-rated striker, so the Metro reports. The Gunners are being linked with a £25.4million bid for Porto striker Jackson Martinez. The Colombian sharpshooter has been in lethal form this term, netting 26 goals in 31 appearances for the Dragões. He is also fairly nifty at assists. FC Porto are rumoured to be willing to accept a fee that falls slightly short of Martinez's £29million release clause. However, Arsenal might have to compete with Premier League rivals Liverpool and Spurs for his signature, as both clubs are reportedly keen on signing the South American. Elsewhere, Winston Reid has committed his future to West Ham. The Kiwi has penned a new contract keeping at the London club for a further six years, claims the Telegraph. Both Tottenham and Arsenal were linked with a move for the defender but it looks like Reid will be a Hammer for the foreseeable future after the new deal.