Eberechi Eze has been balling out for Crystal Palace over the last five years, but the talisman, who turned 27 years old in June, might be jumping ship to try to write the next chapter of his career.
The Guardian has given an update that the attacker is engaged in talks with Tottenham Hotspur.
This news comes after weeks of a saga involving interest from their North London rivals Arsenal. Eze was formerly on their books as an academy player, rising through the ranks at QPR before breaking out in the top tier with the Eagles. The Gunners gave consideration to buying him as an option who could offer creativity from the left, but the sticking point always seemed to be the price.
Arsenal were unwilling to trigger a release clause that expired in Eze's contract last week, thinking that an outlay of £68 million was too steep to shell out for him. But Eze's representation, the CAA agency, has good ties with Tottenham, who hope to bring him in for a fee of £55 million plus bonuses.
What would Eze offer Tottenham?
Arsenal fans would still suggest their squad has a lot to gain from getting a second creative presence in the centre of the park, who is not Martin Odegaard. But the club continues to prefer players who have not hit their peak age, and Hale End is already providing some alternatives to their club captain.
Ethan Nwaneri has signed his first long-term contract with his boyhood club, and with Bukayo Saka back from his hamstring tear, minutes in the lineup are likeliest to come as a pocket player in the ten.
Max Dowman, who is only 15, should slowly integrate into the squad, but he dazzled in preseason with the first team. He stands out as another bright option for the role of an attacking midfielder.
On the other hand, Spurs would benefit from Eze now. James Maddison will be missing for months with an ACL injury. At the same time, Dejan Kulusevski continues to rehab from his knee surgery.
Pape Matar Sarr has become a trusted lieutenant for Thomas Frank and can contribute in the final third. But he is much more of a 'do it all' midfielder, far different from the traits of the 27-year-old.
Eze would be a specialist creative force for Tottenham. He drives through the middle of the pitch and is a talismanic presence for Palace as the primary ball handler in their front three. His body swerves, technique, and bravery bring smiles to supporters, but he also knows how to land a knockout blow.
The attacker hit double-digit goal tallies in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns in the Premier League. Last season, he started slowly, but still finished with eight goals and assists apiece. On top of that, he scored against Aston Villa and Manchester City on the way to lifting the FA Cup trophy.