Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Eberechi Eze this summer will be remembered for a long time, with the Lilywhites unable to complete a deal for his signature.
After missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White, in what was another infamous saga, the hierarchy turned their attention to the 27-year-old in an attempt to fill the void in the attacking midfield department.
Talks were said to be at an advanced stage for the England international, but a turn of events saw Thomas Frank’s side miss out - in explicable fashion too.
The player instead agreed a deal to join North London rivals Arsenal, leading to discontent shown by the Spurs faithful towards owner Daniel Levy over the last couple of weeks.
However, the owner has the chance to rectify such mistakes before the September 1st deadline, with other alternatives constantly being pursued in recent days.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for an Eze alternative
In an attempt to soften the blow, Spurs have moved on to Eze’s compatriot Morgan Rogers, with Frank said to be a huge admirer of the Aston Villa star.
It’s been reported that the Lilywhites have been in negotiations with Unai Emery’s outfit over a deal for the 23-year-old talent, who could cost as much as £80m before Monday’s transfer deadline.
However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons another attacking midfielder they're currently considering, according to CaughtOffside.
Their report claims that Spurs have made an enquiry to land the Dutch international, despite Chelsea currently leading the race after agreeing personal terms with the player.
It also states the Lilywhites could pounce on the recent delay, making their own £60m hijack this summer, potentially swooping in after their recent contact with the Bundesliga outfit.
Why Spurs’ latest target is a bigger talent than Eze
There’s no denying that Eze would’ve been an excellent addition to the current Spurs side, with disappointment undoubtedly being felt amongst the fanbase as a result of his move to Arsenal.
Failing to complete a deal for the player is bad enough, but losing out to your main rivals would undoubtedly compound the misery currently being felt by the supporters.
However, if the side are to reach the next level under Frank, the hierarchy simply can’t rest on their laurels, needing to pursue other targets to help improve the squad.
Given the injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, the need for a new option in such a department has become even more apparent - but they’re desperately running out of time for a deal.
A hijack of a move for Simons could be the perfect signing to help get the fanbase back on side, whilst also handing Frank the tools he needs to build on his 100% start in the Premier League.
When comparing his stats to those of Eze from the 2024/25 campaign, the former PSG star managed to massively outperform him in numerous key areas - which makes missing out on the Englishman a blessing in disguise.
Simons, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Rafael Van der Vaart, posted a better goal and assist rate per 90 - whilst also achieving a better shot on target accuracy rate, with such a figure handing the club more of a clinical option in attacking areas.
Whilst such a component of his game isn’t vital, it’s certainly a bonus that could see the Lilywhites gain yet another goalscoring option to help the side in their quest for Premier League success.
However, creativity is massively needed in the number ten role, something which Simons would provide, given his tally of 2.2 key passes per 90 and 3.3 passes into the final third per 90 - with both tallies higher than those produced by Eze.
The Dutchman’s dominance is further demonstrated in his ability to procure more carries into the final third per 90, able to progress the play before putting the final touches on any attack - as seen by his aforementioned figures.
£60m would be another hefty figure forked out by the board, but it would be one that could be a bargain if he continues on his current trajectory and reaches his full potential.
It would also be a better signing than Eze, potentially allowing Frank’s side to get one over a rival and complete their own hijack after their previous defeat in the market.