The versatile right-back is surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane after falling behind Premier league young player of the season Kyle Walker in the pecking order.

The Blues’ have emerged as surprise suitors for the 26-year-old, with new manager Roberto Di Matteo believing he can provide much-needed competition at right-back and centre-half.

The Italian has been impressed with Corluka, who has been employed centrally during Croatia’s Euro 2012 campaign and is aware that the former Manchester City defender is discontented in North London.

The Croatian spent the second half of last season on loan at German side Bayern Leverkusen after failing to make a single league appearance for Spurs before January and last month, publicly questioned then manager Harry Redknapp’s lack of rotation.

If Corluka completes the move across the Capital, he will likely be part of a trio of Croatian departures from White Hart Lane this summer. Play-maker Niko Kranjcar has already joined Dynamo Kyiv, while spurs ace Luka Modric is wanted by the world’s biggest clubs including Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The North London side are unlikely to allow any players to leave before they appoint a new manager but have an abundance of young talent at right-back, including Walker, Kyle Naughton and England under-21 international Adam Smith.