Tottenham could be given a clear route to sign a highly productive attacking midfielder thanks to former boss José Mourinho, Spurs are on a mission to overhaul their squad this summer, with Roberto De Zerbi hoping to take the North London club back to competing for European qualification.
Back-to-back bottom half finishes finally look to have sparked the Spurs chiefs into action, and it seems there will be mass investment at Hotspur Way this summer after disappointing recent recruitment campaigns.
With Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke already snapped up, Spurs now want a holding midfielder and a winger, and there will still be more business to do after those boxes are ticked off.
The Paz route clears
Spurs have been credited with an interest in Como attacking spark Nico Paz this summer, along with a host of other clubs. The 21-year-old scored 13 and provided eight assists for Como to help them to European qualification during the season just gone, and he now finds himself at the centre of a giant transfer saga.
That's because, with interest in Paz ramping up, Real Madrid still have the option to re-sign the Argentine for just £8.6million. According to TeamTalk, and indeed reports in Spain, Mourinho is not likely to see the 2025-26 Serie A midfielder of the season in his plans, but Los Blancos are still expected to exercise the option this summer.
Los Blancos are expected to re-sign Paz, tipped to become 'one of the best players in the world' by Francesco Totti, for the clause stated and then try to sell him for around £51.8miillion. That would see them net a huge profit, but the news will excite other clubs, who may now have a chance to land Paz this summer.
Messi's Paz praise
Paz is already a 10-time Argentina international, and he is at the World Cup with his nation this summer, albeit he will largely be a supplementary option. Back when Paz made his debut for the World Cup winners in 2024, Lionel Messi said: "We played very well between the lines, at a high level. Now Nico Paz has made his debut, and he has a lot of quality and I hope he continues to grow. He wasn't born when I made my debut in Primera, yes, I knew (laughs).
"He has a great head, he understands the game perfectly and I hope he continues like this. He played, he enjoyed it and I think he'll feel comfortable in this team because he likes having the ball."
Spurs now potentially have the option to land that talent, but they would need to work out where he fits, given they have James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Xavi Simons under contract. Paz's best position is in the number 10 role, but he can also play wide.