Tottenham are now said to have identified a new forward target as they contemplate strengthening at the top end of the pitch. Spurs are now concentrating on attacking recruits after taking care of their defence and midfield with a club-record spending bill of £237million.
Roberto De Zerbi is backed like no other Spurs boss before him, with the club hoping to go from back-to-back bottom-half finishes to European qualification. Big squad changes are required, and the board is sticking to their word by splashing hundreds of millions in a bid to achieve their objective.
A winger looks to be next for Spurs, but a striker may also be signed, perhaps depending on whether Dominic Solanke or Richarlison leave.
Spurs now considering Mikautadze transfer
According to journalist Paul O'Keefe, Tottenham are considering a deal to sign Villarreal forward Georges Mikautadze. He posted on X: "Georges Mikautadze among the names attracting interest from Tottenham as they look to strengthen their attack."
Mikautadze cost Villarreal up to €36million (£30,8m) last summer, arriving from Olympique Lyon, and he scored 12 times in La Liga in his first season with the club. The forward is under a long-term deal and his release clause is unclear at this stage, but it's likely it is around €50million or more.
“We can't maintain this level of spending and effort every year. We have to balance the accounts for the 2026–27 season and, even while playing in the Champions League, we may have to make a sale.” - Fernando Roig, Villarreal owner
Villarreal owner Fernando Roig has said the club will likely sell one player this summer to keep their finances ticking over, even after securing back-to-back qualification for the Champions League for the first time in their history. But Mikautadze will not be under consideration to be sold, with the Yellow Submarine likely to allow Pape Gueye to move on amid Premier League interest.
Mikautadze was seen as a statement signing following Champions League qualification last summer, and as the club's main striker, a sale is unlikely.
Strikers linked with Tottenham this summer
Omar Marmoush
Victor Osimhen
Benjamin Sesko
Folarin Balogun
Nicolas Jackson
Georges Mikautadze
What kind of player is Georges Mikautadze?
Mikautadze has an extraordinary technical ability. That's not to say he is one of the best players in the world, which would be too strong, but his technical ability is at an elite level. He is the sort of player who has that something special, and like any player of that mould, it doesn't always come off.
But Mikautadze is a confident finisher. He loves to chip the goalkeeper when it's on, and you'll often seen deft finishes from the Georgia international, rather than powerful strikes. He can play a fox in the box type of role, but he also likes to drift elsewhere to pick up the ball on the edge of the box and attempt curlers from a little further out.
What he is not is a dominant striker who is going to hold the ball up or win headers consistently. Mikautadze needs the ball at his feet to succeed. Like many of those sorts of players, he can go missing in a more direct game, but if he is given the ball to feet or in behind, he has rapid pace and can damage teams quickly with his technical ability. He has quick feet and trickery, and at 25 years of age, he is starting to really polish that, with his first LaLiga season seeing him become a little more disciplined with how he uses the ball.
Marcelino, who was in charge of Villarreal last season, said of the forward: “He’s a little anarchic, intuitive, intelligent, a great finisher with both feet."
He added in October of last year: “Georges is a player who is still adapting. He's showing his qualities. He has countless resources and can finish against top-class goalkeepers. He can give us an outstanding performance and help us achieve our objectives.”