Toulouse to play hard-ball with Tottenham over France star

Toulouse are ready to play hard-ball with Tottenham and name Etienne Capoue for their opening Ligue 1 fixture this Saturday.

Spurs are believed to have agreed a fee of around £9million for the defensive midfielder.

Cardiff thought they had pulled off a coup by signing him but the north London club have stepped in and are now favourites to land the France international.

A deal approaching £9m has been mooted but with Toulouse gearing up for their league clash at Valenciennes this Saturday, Capoue will be named in the starting line-up.

Andre Villas-Boas hoped to get the 25-year-old over for a medical before the end of the week but Toulouse are holding firm.

Manager Alain Casanova said: "Etienne Capoue is still a Toulouse player and he will play this weekend."