Norwich City have slapped a £45m price tag on academy graduate Max Aarons to fend off interest from Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur, according to a national newspaper report.

Aarons has featured in all bar two of the Canaries Premier League fixtures this season, with his performances rumoured to have caught the attentions of Spurs recruitment chiefs.

The Athletic are reporting that City will fight to hold onto their starlet by demanding an eye-watering transfer fee for their young right-back.

Serge Aurier has been Mourinho's first choice option since he arrived at the club in November, with England U21 international Kyle Walker-Peters and Juan Foyth, who can operate in a full-back slot, the alternatives.

Neither have persuaded Mourinho to give them a chance in the first-team and now the Portuguese is said to want reinforcements in that position.

Spurs reportedly considered making a move for Aarons in the summer but any attempt to sign the 19 year-old will prove expensive during this window.

The report suggests it would take a fee similar to that Manchester United paid for right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the summer to tempt the Canaries hierarchy into a sale, especially given City are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Premier League.

That context means this could be a deal that is revisited in the summer, providing Spurs opt not to strengthen the position during this window.

City aren't under financial pressure during January, meaning any sales will be through choice rather than necessity and this price tag could be an attempt to fend off any potential suitors.

The Pink Un: Aarons has made 19 appearances for City this season Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdAarons has made 19 appearances for City this season Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: JASONPIX)

Aarons has been an integral part of Daniel Farke's plans this season, and his emergence into the first-team picture at Carrow Road has been rapid following his senior debut in 2018. Since, he has claimed the Football League's Young Player of the Year award and has been capped at England U21 level.

Farke has commented on potential interest in Aarons previously, stating: "I am not worried at all about any bidding, if there is interest in our players it means that we are doing many things alright," the German explained.

"Our situation has changed, in the last transfer windows we always had to sell our best players. At the moment, if we are honest we cannot afford really top class players, but we don't have to sell any players and that's a good situation.

"We need Max for the whole season for that there is no scenario where we would sell one of our top players (in January).

The Pink Un: Max Aarons in action for City against Spurs, who are long-term admirers of the right-back Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdMax Aarons in action for City against Spurs, who are long-term admirers of the right-back Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: Paul Chesterton)

"Our financial situation is quite relaxed and we know that we need all our key players to have a chance of creating a big sensation (and surviving).

"For that we are not tempted at all to sell our best players. In this situation you never know, sometimes there is an unbelievable offer and the club decides to do some business but we are in such a comfortable situation that I don't expect any business."