Tottenham Hotspur’s priority this summer has been to strengthen their first-team squad this summer, with Thomas Frank needing the tools to succeed during his spell in North London.
Mohammed Kudus has been the first major addition of the Dane’s tenure at the club, costing a staggering £55m from fellow London outfit West Ham United.
However, after completing a deal for the Ghanaian international, their recruitment has evidently switched to landing new midfield talents to help bolster the middle of the park.
Morgan Gibbs-White has arguably been the most high-profile name linked with a move in such a department, even making a £60m bid for the England international.
The delay in the move has forced the Lilywhites to carry on their hunt elsewhere, subsequently drawing up a shortlist of other midfielders who could make the move to North London this summer.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new midfielders this summer
Douglas Luiz is a player who’s been on Spurs’ radar over recent weeks, with the Brazilian almost certain to leave Juventus this summer after making three Serie A starts last season.
In recent days, his agent has travelled to England to speak to possible interested clubs, but it remains unclear at this stage if Frank’s side are one of the teams who will enter talks.
However, another midfielder has emerged as key target for the club this window, with Bayern Munich star Joao Palhinha a player under consideration, according to journalist Sam Dean.
He claims that work is already being done behind the scenes to land the 30-year-old this summer, as he’s expected to be allowed to depart the Bundesliga titleholders in a hunt for added game time.
Dean also states that a permanent or temporary move could take place this window, looking to get ahead in the race for his signature, after Arsenal previously explored a move for the Portuguese international.
Why Spurs’ latest target would be the dream Wharton alternative
Adam Wharton has been another midfielder linked with a summer move to join Spurs this summer, with the youngster one of the most highly-rated youngsters in England’s top-flight.
The 21-year-old may have only made 36 Premier League appearances since joining the Eagles in January 2024, but he’s already impressed massively, subsequently being named in England’s squad for Euro 2024.
Such a move would be an exciting one for the Lilywhites’ supporters, but it may be one they’re priced out of, with Oliver Glasner’s side currently demanding around £100m for his signature.
It’s unclear if the player himself would be keen on a switch across the capital to join Frank’s side, leading to the hierarchy targeting other reinforcements such as Palhinha.
Whilst on the face of it, the 30-year-old may not be the name the supporters are excited by, they should be happy with a potential move, with the former Fulham star being somewhat underrated in recent times.
When comparing his stats to those of Wharton from the most recent campaign, he managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, highlighting the qualities he could add to the current side.
Palhinha, who’s been labelled “outrageous” by Squawka, completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst registering more passes into the final third, showcasing the talent he possesses with the ball at his feet.
He also managed to win more tackles per 90, also making more blocks, handing Frank the real commanding deep-lying presence he’s been after since taking the reins.
The former Sporting CP star has also dominated aerially, winning over 30% more of the battles he entered, a part of his game which could prove to be vital at both ends of the pitch.
Whilst a move for Palhinha may not be many fans' first choice this window, he’s proven in Germany that he possesses a lot of top-level talent that could improve the side.
A deal for Wharton will have to stay on hold for the time being, but although the Portuguese international is a cheaper option, it doesn’t mean that the side will be getting any less of a quality addition.