Tottenham Hotspur need to sign attacking game-changers this summer in order to improve from a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League last season and prepare themselves for a grueling campaign ahead after achieving a return to the Champions League, where attacking quality is at a premium.
After striking out on Bryan Mbeumo, Tottenham need to create a new list of winger targets, as the wings are the biggest position of need for Spurs. Even if Son Heung-min spends the last season of his contract in North London, Tottenham need another player on either wings, since Mathys Tel isn't ready to take on the full load yet and Dejan Kulusevski isn't offering enough goal threat.
With Mbeumo almost certainly headed to Manchester United, all eyes are on the alternatives. When it comes to right wingers, Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has long been tabbed as the main "Plan B" to Mbeumo after a strong breakout campaign of his own, and Tottenham are used to doing business with the Cherries, having purchased 2023/24's Premier League breakout star Dominic Solanke from them. And Solanke did play a crucial role in Spurs winnin the Europa League.
Tottenham don't want to make a worse version of the Solanke signing
But it looks like Tottenham won't make another expensive purchase from Bournemouth this summer. Per a report from talkSPORT's Ben Jacobs, Tottenham have recused themselves from the Semenyo proceedings, as they are no longer interested in the player and will not show future interest in the young winger unless if Bournemouth lower their current asking price of 65 million pounds.
It makes sense for Tottenham not to want to make a similarly expensive purchase as Solanke for a player who scored 11 goals and 5 assists last season. While Semenyo is relatively young at the age of 25, he's not exactly a prospect and wouldn't have much resale value at the end of the contract, making Bournemouth asking that much for an 11-goal winger a little ridiculous when Mbeumo is going for a similar amount after registering 20 goals and 7 assists for Brentford last season.
Semenyo being off the list isn't a terrible decision from Tottenham, even if Semenyo is a dynamic wide player, but it does raise the question of who the alternative will be. Right now, the only player who jumps out is Mohmmaed Kudus of West Ham, a bounce-back candidate who could actually be slightly cheaper than Semenyo with twice the upside as a player.