Eberechi Eze to Tottenham transfer mess leaves Daniel Levy facing serious questions

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Lads, it's Tottenham.

This awful three-word phrase was first coined by Sir Alex Ferguson as a team talk for his Manchester United players suggesting they had nothing to fear from playing Spurs and should enjoy their football and just go out and beat them.

More often than not, they did back then.

It's the history of Tottenham.

That's another derogatory phrase, this time brought up by Giorgio Chiellini after a Champions League win over Spurs. This was used to reference Spurs "always missing something to arrive at the end".

We all thought that finally, finally winning a trophy in that triumphant UEFA Europa League final in May would lay these harsh comments - along with the cringey Spursy tag - to rest.

Then we step into a transfer window and I can't help but think of those tags again and use them to describe the Lilywhites' actions.

It has happened time and again in the past and, unfortunately for supporters, Tottenham have now been burned not once, but twice in the summer transfer window.

football.london reported on Tuesday and Wednesday that Spurs were closing in on a deal to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, with talks ongoing between the two clubs.

The No.10 that Thomas Frank's squad desperately craves and a fantastic talent that Spurs have tracked for a number of years. What a signing.

But, with the deal not completed you can never celebrate; on Wednesday evening, having seen Kai Havertz ruled out with injury, Arsenal reignited their interest in Eze. Having been linked for much of the summer, only for plans to sign him to be put on the backburner, the Gunners are now set to sign the England international from under Spurs' noses.

Getting hijacked by anyone for a transfer is bad enough, but when it's your biggest rivals it hurts even more.

Spurs had turned their attentions to Eze after failing to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest. That was one of the weirdest transfer situations you're ever likely to encounter.

Once again, Spurs thought they had got their man, but after Forest threatened legal action and shut down communications with Tottenham, the player went on to sign a new contract with his club.

Twice in one window Spurs have been close to completing a statement signing in a position that clearly needs filling and twice the club have failed.

It is, as football.london reporter Alasdair Gold put it, "a mess".

The problem is, for Tottenham supporters, things like this have happened before. Willian and Chelsea immediately springs to mind. But there have been plenty of other occasions of missing out on key signings.

Jack Grealish is another where the club dallied over a price and Aston Villa eventually got new investment and said 'on your bike'.

Paulo Dybala and Bruno Fernandes looked set to move to north London at various times, only for the rug to be pulled at seemingly the last moment.

there are, of course, differing reasons why these deals do not come off and no one can know exactly what goes on behind the scenes. But it feels like it happens all too often to Tottenham.

Daniel Levy spoke in pre-season of the Europa League not being enough, that he wants Spurs to challenge for and win the Premier League and the Champions League.

To do that, we need to back the manager because the squad is painfully short of quality in certain areas. Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all got business done in super quick time this summer, signalling their intent.

Once again, despite early moves for Mathys Tel (making his loan deal permanent), Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha - and the untested Kota Takai - Tottenham fans are still left waiting for more. Spurs still need one or two signings and the season is already under way. And with Eze moving to Arsenal now, it's back to the drawing board and yet another wait to see if any other plans come to fruition.