The Argentine only moved to Serie A side Como last summer, joining from Real Madrid, and the Italian outfit are hellbent on retaining the youngster’s services.
Spurs actually enquired for Paz earlier in the window but were rebuffed in their efforts to sign the 20-year-old as Como understandably set a high asking price for their star man.
While the north London side previously scoffed at a reported €70m valuation, their want, nay, need for a number 10 in the dying embers of the transfer window means they need to stump up the cash for a player Lionel Messi once deemed ‘incredible’.
Paz enjoyed a fine debut Serie A season having completed more dribbles (69) than any other player in the division.
The youngster also managed eight assists and six goals for Como, the former coming from 54 chances created, that the 12th most in Italy’s top tier. Adept at finding space between the lines and prying apart defences, Paz’s career is only on the rise.
In addition, Paz won possession in the attacking third the third most times (23) in the 2024/25 Serie A campaign, with his hard work off the ball a desirable trait in a Thomas Frank side.
Incredibly press resistant, too, on paper, Paz is the perfect fit as an Eze alternative.
Maghnes Akliouche - Monaco
Monaco kicked off their domestic campaign with a 3-1 home win over Le Havre.
The visitors looked primed to mount a comeback midway through the second half before Maghnes Akliouche put the result beyond doubt. That may have been just his sixth league goal since the start of last season, but the Frenchman has his admirers, and it easy to see why.
Despite starting 28 of 35 league matches since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, only two players have provided more assists than Akliouche (10) in Ligue 1, all of which have come from open play.
For a Spurs side that has Pedro Porro, Mohammed Kudus and, when available, Maddison on set piece duty, this ability to pick a pass without the need for free kicks or corners is a huge bonus.
And like Paz, Akliouche isn’t afraid to get stuck in to help his side in attack. Indeed, he has won possession in the attacking third more times (36) than any other player since the start of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season.
Frank wants his attacking players to press high in order to force opposition turnovers, and Akliouche fits the bill.
There are minor concerns over the 23-year-old’s languid style yet he’s a player who has the tools to carry out the relevant number 10 duties for Spurs.
Morgan Rogers - Aston Villa
Jacob Ramsey’s move to Newcastle eases Aston Villa’s PSR concerns as we enter the final knockings of the summer window.
Even so, Villa are not quite out of the woods just yet and may need to make further sales to remain in line with the Premier League’s guidelines.
The most sellable asset on the books is Morgan Rogers, yet luring him away from Villa Park will take some doing.
Rogers has enjoyed a stunning rise following his arrival from Middlesbrough 18 months’ ago, and he’s now one of the first names on the Unai Emery’s team sheet.
It’s easy to see why, too. Rogers is a powerhouse runner when he gets up a head of steam, evident in that he ranks sixth for successful dribbles (68) in the Premier League since the start of last season.
Whereas Paz and Akliouche are more in keeping with the fee Spurs were willing to pay for Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White, the Villans will be looking for closer to £100m, such is his importance to Emery’s side.
As an England international, there is the English premium that comes with a player of his calibre and scope for development.
Destined to become a regular on the international stage before long, Rogers feels more like a pipe dream at this point. What Spurs wouldn’t give to make it a reality.
Alex Scott - Bournemouth
Another plucked from the EFL who doesn’t look out of place in the Premier League, Alex Scott is a bit of a wildcard pick as an Eze alternative, but one Spurs should be considering no less. As a Spurs fan himself, Scott would relish the opportunity to turn out for his boyhood club.
Injury restricted the 22-year-old to just eight league starts last season, and with Andoni Iraola settling on an XI in his absence, Scott found it increasingly difficult to force his way back into the Bournemouth side.
He’s a different profile to the aforementioned trio in that he won’t boast the same dribbling qualities as Paz or Rogers, yet Scott’s tenacity is one that’ll fit well with Frank’s hard-working demands.
Of course, there are concerns about Scott’s output, and rightly so. During his time with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just one goal and one assist to his name and has committed more fouls (38) than he has created chances (34) in his Premier League career.
More of an 8 than a 10, Spurs have a similar profile in the squad in Pape Sarr, so whether they need to add a midfielder of Scott’s style remains to be seen.
That’s not to say he wouldn’t be a handy option over a long campaign, but if Spurs are rightly prioritising a 10, then their efforts should be focussed on the above trio rather than the Bournemouth star.