Tottenham Hotspur have a number of other targets in mind with Bryan Mbeumo opting for Manchester United
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Thomas Frank has arrived in North London and is looking to put his stamp on a Tottenham Hotspur side fresh from the contrast of Europa League glory but Premier League struggles which led to Ange Postecoglou losing his job.
Spurs are interested in several forward players in an attempt to become a more potent attacking threat next term, with replacing the goals and influence of ageing club legend Son Heung-min a necessity.
The 2025/26 season could be a competitive one in the battle for Europe and few from outside the Spurs camp will know what to expect from Frank’s side, who can use that to their advantage. They may look set to miss out on Bryan Mbeumo, but several other transfer targets remain in the offing.
Spurs’ major targets after missing out on Mbeumo
Three top Premier League targets have emerged, with Frank evidently looking for players already thriving at this level while hoping to weaken rivals as Spurs aim to shoot up the table under the former Brentford manager.
The Athletic report that Tottenham have already made an enquiry to Bournemouth about winger Antoine Semenyo, though the Cherries’ £70m price tag may provide a stumbling block in a deal for the 25-year-old. The Ghana international would offer an alternative to Mbeumo from the right wing.
Another player in whom Spurs are reported to have a long-standing interest is Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze, who has a £68m release clause and has been targeted by several of the Premier League’s biggest clubs. The Athletic’s report states that there is no guarantee he leaves Selhurst Park this summer, though this could depend largely on whether the likes of Spurs or arch-rivals Arsenal are willing to meet his release clause.
Finally, there is Mohammed Kudus, Semenyo’s international teammate, who plays for neighbours West Ham United and could be available for £60m this summer. The Hammers may be inclined to sell for PSR reasons, though Kudus’ form declined in 2024/25 after a strong first season in England.
Which of their attacking targets should be Spurs’ priority?
With all three aforementioned players within a similar price range, the main question is likely to be who do the club feel is most worth their price tag. The likelihood is that they can only sign one of the three, with attacking players such as James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel already at the club.
Each signing would present differing questions as Frank decides who his top target should be. In the case of Semenyo, he has only played two full seasons in the Premier League since signing from Bristol City for £10m and last campaign was the first time he reached double figures for goals in his career. The fact Bournemouth have already made multiple sales of key players this summer has likely meant they have pushed Semenyo’s asking price higher than it would be in other circumstances. This may be a deal-breaker.
With Kudus, the issue surrounds what happened at West Ham last season. Not only did his goalscoring and creative output decrease significantly, the former Ajax man was at times accused by fans under former manager Julen Lopetegui of having attitude issues on the pitch and appearing as though he was dreaming of a big move away. Considering the struggles faced by Spurs in the league last season, it is important that Frank has the right characters on board who will continue to fight for the badge when the chips are down.
The obvious answer, who offers no doubts when it comes to character or value for money, is Eze. With five years of Premier League experience under his belt and 34 Premier League goals and an FA Cup winners’ medal to show for it, the 27-year-old is also known for his great character and inspiring story of battling against academy rejection off the pitch. The issue could be if Spurs are beaten to a deal by a Premier League rival, particularly Arsenal. While such a development would certainly cause embarrassment, it could also mean that Spurs get none of their top targets at all if they make the Palace man a priority. With the start of the new season just six weeks away, Frank and the Spurs board have a big decision to make.