Tottenham Hotspur are reeling after watching North London rivals Arsenal scoop up Crystal Palace star attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, just when everyone thought the 27-year-old was headed to Spurs as their new marquee addition to the summer 2025 transfer window.
Instead, Tottenham are now at risk of exiting August empty-handed at what is now their biggest position of need, and, so far, their only real attacking addition of the summer transfer market has been Mohammed Kudus from West Ham. Kudus is already paying off dividends, but even his brilliance against PSG wasn't enough to overcome the severe lack of central playmaking.
Tottenham are going to have to sign at least one No. 10 - and preferably two - as both veteran stars James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are out until further notice with knee injuries. As Spurs head back to the drawing board, it appears they are going after the one player their fans don't want to see in a starting role.
According to a report from The Independent's Miguel Delaney, Tottenham have made an approach to Southampton regarding the availability of 19-year-old prospect Tyler Dibling. Spurs had been linked to Dibling briefly early in the transfer window, and now he's resurfaced months later as something further down the list than a Plan B following the Eberechi Eze transfer collapse.
Tottenham need proven stars
Tottenham fans are not too pleased with Spurs entertaining the Dibling option, and you only have to read replies to Spurs fan news accounts, like this one with over 100 likes, to see exactly what Spurs fans think about this "bottom of the barrel" candidate in comparison to the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eze.
Spurs could have had their pick of several competent, established Premier League playmakers or more exciting, ascending prospects with proven track records elsewhere, such as current Manchester City star Rayan Cherki.
Instead, Tottenham have to look at guys like Dibling as their most realistic transfer targets left in August, which is all down to their own poor planning and even worse negotiating. Dibling has clear talent, but he's nowhere near the caliber of player to start as a No. 10 in the Premier League for a side with Champions League aspirations, and he already showed in Southampton's dismal demotion season that he's far from ready.
Dibling scored just 2 goals in 33 Premier League appearances last season, and he didn't even start on Matchday 1 of the Championship for the Saints. There's no way Tottenham should even be wasting resources approaching Dibling as an option right now when they should be committing 100 percent of their time and efforts into the elite attacking midfield or winger options like Savinho, Nico Paz, or Morgan Rogers.