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Tottenham set to increase bid for key €70M

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Tottenham set to increase bid for key €70M-rated transfer target - Hotspur HQ
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Desperate times call for desperate measures for Tottenham Hotspur. The North London giants just lost out on another top-tier Premier League playmaker on the transfer market, as Crystal Palace star attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze broke Spurs hearts by choosing to sign with rivals Arsenal at the last second.

Eze's snub followed Morgan GIbbs-White's, leaving Tottenham without a viable star in the attacking midfield role following a potentially season-ending injury to James Maddison, as well as a prolonged recovery period for emergency backup option Dejan Kulusevski.

Spurs are left scouring the market for alternative options, and arguably the most intriguing of the ones actually available for transfer is Como star Nico Paz, who broke out in his first season at the top level.

An immediate starter - and star - in Serie A, Paz joined Como permanently last summer for six million euros. Real Madrid, the club where he graduated from as a top academy prospect, are no longer his parent club, but they can buy him back next summer for less than 10 million euros.

Tottenham may have to spend even more than 70M

Despite Madrid's looming presence, Tottenham are interested in plucking the 20-year-old Serie A playmaker from Como. According to a new report from Italian transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio, Tottenham are ready to go back in for Paz after submitting a 40 million euro transfer bid to Como for the player earlier this window.

Per Di Marzio, Tottenham are going to submit an improved transfer bid to Como for Paz, but Como have set a high asking price for the Spanish international. The Italian club would like to obtain 70 million euros in exchange for the young midfielder, Complicating things further is the fact that Real Madrid will have final say on any Paz transfer because of their buy-back clause.

Therefore, in order for Tottenham to guarantee they keep Paz and don't end up in a Johnny Cardoso situation where he ends up in Madrid, Spurs may have to pay additional cash to Real Madrid on top of the 70 million euros to Como in order to avoid an eventual letdown,

It's a lot of money for a player who could end up being more expensive than Mohammed Kudus, Eberechi Eze, and even Savinho over at Manchester City. Paz is really good and blew everyone away in Serie A, but the competition was easier and the pressure virtually nil at Como with the keys to the kingdom handed to him. He's better than almost all the options left for Tottenham, but he's also ridiculously expensive for someone without a proven track record at the Champions League or Premier League level among the best of the best in Europe.

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Thomas Frank teasing two possible formations for Tottenham ahead of Man City

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Thomas Frank teasing two possible formations for Tottenham ahead of Man City - Hotspur HQ
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Tottenham Hotspur made quite the statement on the Premier League's opening weekend, lambasting newcomers Burnley 3-0 to take out their frustrations on the blown loss in the UEFA Supercup Final against reigning Champions League winners PSG.

Things are looking up for Spurs on the pitch, even as they were dealt a crucial blow off it with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze choosing loathsome rivals Arsenal over them. Spurs still need to reenforce the attacking elements of their squad, and one of their biggest transfer targets is actually a member of the opposition on Saturday afternoon, Manchester City winger Savinho.

Manchester City will be a much more appropriate test for a Tottenham team that looked very game for the champions of Europe, as they have a lot more quality than Burnley. They showed it, too, last weekend with an even more impressive 4-0 drubbing of Wolves

Ahead of the big match on Saturday at the Etihad, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank spoke about two formations he is thinking of running against Manchester City and beyond in the 2025/26 Premier League season, via The Spurs Express:

“I treat every game a little bit different, but it’s definitely in my mind the 3-5-2, it’s also definitely in my mind the 4-2-3-1, and I will take a decision on what we do and you’ll see that tomorrow. I am always thinking, how can we tweak a little bit inside our principles. Then of course system can give us something, but principles are the most important thing. So, yeah I will be pragmatic, I will use different systems and different ways to win football matches.”

Tottenham went with three against PSG

Tottenham utilized a back four in the Premier League opener against Burnley with Pape Sarr, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall anchoring the midfield three with the main back four, sans Djed Spence starting for Destiny Udogie, behind them.

But it's worth noting that in the game before that against PSG, Frank made use of a back three and had Pedro Porro and Djed Spence as wing backs. Kevin Danso drew a start in central defense alongside Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to form quite the enviable trio of center backs.

Frank can't go wrong with any approach, and, ultimately, against a stronger like like Man City, he may opt for the formation he used against PSG for more defensive solidity against the likes of Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, and new Man City superstar Tijjani Reijnders.

Going forward, Tottenham will be a flexible team with multiple formations that will be deployed depending on the situation. The fact that Spurs have such a versatile, young squad under Frank definitiely helps, and that tactical flexibility and squad versatility is exactly why it's so important for Spurs to keep signing good footballers before the transfer market ends.

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Man City vs Tottenham results over the last 5 meetings

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Man City vs Tottenham results over the last 5 meetings - Hotspur HQ
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No Son Heung-min or Dejan Kulusevski this weekend for Tottenham. Two players who Man City have historically struggled against. Here's how the last 5 games have gone.

Tottenham 0-1 Man City (Premier League)

After finding it difficult at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium for many earlier games, City continued better recent form there. Erling Haaland, just recently back from injury, scored an early goal. Having already been a threat, Haaland converted a Jeremy Doku pass from close range to give City the lead. Tottenham struggled to deal with Doku and Savinho on the wings and needed Vicario to make some good saves, but improved in the second half.

Odobert came close, and we did see a great late chance fall for Son, who had his shot saved. That gave Tottenham hope, but there were no more goals to come, Haaland even had a late finish ruled out for a handball. There was time, though, for Pape Matar Sarr to head over what should have been an equalizer.

Man City 0-4 Tottenham (Premier League)

If ever there was a game that shows Angeball at its finest, this was it. Ange's tactics did not always work, of course, and opposition teams did seem to figure them out quickly, but when they worked like this, it was wonderful to watch. Spurs went into this game without Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven, two players who it was thought would be needed to have any chance. City were on a terrible run of form, and it wasn't long before they were struggling again.

James Maddison scored twice in the first half, once from a perfect Dejan Kulusevski cross and another from a Son through ball. The expected City avalanche in the second half didn't happen. Instead, Porro scored a third after another Kulusevski drive. Brennan Johnson added a fourth in injury time. Timo Werner provided the cross to leave the stadium in shock, showing great pace to go straight past Kyle Walker.

Tottenham 2-1 Man City (League Cup)

Timo Werner and Dejan Kulusevski combined for Werner to score to give Spurs the perfect start. Werner could have scored again before Pape Matar Sarr curled in a brilliant effort from outside the box. Sarr hit the ball first time, passing it into the net, and after 25 minutes, Spurs were two up. Since then, City came back into the game, led by Phil Foden and Matheus Nunes.

Nunes it was who scored just before half time to reduce the lead to 2-1. Both teams had chances in the second half in what was an open game. Werner and Savinho looking threats on the wings for each side. Werner and Richarlison both missed opportunities when through on goal. City pressed but a late goal-line block by Yves Bissouma was enough to give Spurs the win.

Tottenham 0-2 Man City (Premier League)

One of the strangest recent games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Many Spurs fans came into it not particularly wanting to win, given City dropping points would boost Arsenal's title chances. Ange Postecoglou did not seem impressed with this talk before the game, but its difficult to see how this should have been a surprise.

In any case, the awkward situation of Spurs helping Arsenal did not materialize. Haaland scored twice as City won fairly comfortably. There were chances for Kulusevski and Son, but City's win put them on their way to the title.

Tottenham 0-1 Man City (FA Cup)

Tottenham vs Man City in the FA Cup will always make me think of Ricky Villa and his (best ever) FA Cup final goal. This game, however, was not as memorable. City had some chances, Spurs did not, and it was a game that never really got going.

Fittingly, the winning goal was a scrappy one, too. Nathan Ake scored late from a corner with Spurs feeling it should have been ruled out for a foul on Vicario. It was the first goal City had scored at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and was enough to send them through.

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An Autopsy of Embarrassment: How Daniel Levy helped Arsenal hijack the Eze deal

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An Autopsy of Embarrassment: How Daniel Levy helped Arsenal hijack the Eze deal - Hotspur HQ
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Tottenham fans can finally exhale. Their worst nightmare is a reality—Eberechi Eze has officially joined bitter rivals Arsenal. It can’t get much worse than this.

If there is a silver lining to the most depressing day for Spurs supporters in recent memory, it is that the death blow came swiftly. But let’s be honest, there are no positives to take from the humiliating debacle. Fans have every right to be apoplectic, and they have every right to direct their contempt toward Daniel Levy and ENIC before the Bournemouth match.

The Tottenham chairman has racked up a laundry list of offenses this summer that will surely be paraded along the High Road on August 30. He sacked Ange Postecoglou just two weeks after winning the Europa League and ending the club’s soul-crushing 17-year trophy drought. He procrastinated before announcing Thomas Frank as his replacement, giving other clubs a two-week head start in the transfer market. He bizarrely declared during in an interview with Gary Neville that he wanted Spurs to win the Premier League, and the Champions League. He was then bullied by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marianakis and failed to finalize the Morgan Gibbs-White deal. He has been unable to sell a single first-team player other than club legend Son Heung-min. And, most damming of all, he committed the unforgivable sin of allowing Arsenal to steal Eberechi Eze from under his nose, rather than triggering the player’s release clause.Â

There will be no shortage of football executives and agents celebrating Daniel Levy’s spectacular summer of failure. His arrogant, small-minded negotiation tactics have now been laid bare for all the world to mock.Â

Respected Sky Sports football reporter Dharmesh Sheth went so far as to call Levy’s actions “outlandish” during an episode of "Last Word On Spurs" following the Eberechi Eze news. We have since learned that not only did the Tottenham chairman refuse to trigger the £68 million release clause, which Arsenal ultimately agreed to pay after it had expired; he attempted to use Richarlison as bait in a convoluted scheme to hijack Yoane Wissa’s move to Newcastle.

But the fall-out from the Eze debacle will ripple far beyond the chairman’s insulated bubble. The consequences will be felt at every level of the club, and beyond.

Outside the Stadium

The facts of the case will only amplify the chorus of enraged fans demanding that Levy step down from football-related activities at Tottenham. While only a small, die-hard contingent chose to join the “Change For Spurs” protest before the Burnley match on opening day, Levy can now expect thousands of supporters to gather outside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Bournemouth game. National news outlets will be there to cover the demonstration, and Daniel Levy’s name will be on everyone’s lips.

Within the Dressing Room

How will the fury of the fans affect the morale of the squad? Will it galvanize the team, or cause new captain Cristian Romero to question his decision to sign a long-term contract? How will Thomas Frank respond to losing a crucial target just ten days before the transfer window closes? How will he manage to compete in four competitions without a number ten? Was he even consulted on the negotiations? Would anyone blame him for seeking a more serious project elsewhere in two years? How will Richarlison react to the news that he was involved in the Eze deal? Was he aware that he was part of the negotiations?

At Board Level

Daniel Levy has lost what remained of his credibility with fans, but what about the board of directors? How will Vivienne Lewis react to the public humiliation? Will she or Non-Executive Director Peter Charrington report their concerns to the Lewis Family that Levy’s negotiating tactics single-handedly caused the deal to collapse? How worried are they that other owners and player agents are now unwilling to do business with him? And how will CEO Vinai Venkatesham respond to his new boss being publicly embarrassed by his previous employer?Â

In the Corporate World

Will the board be concerned that Levy’s mismanagement has diminished Tottenham’s reputation to the extent that corporate sponsors will not want to associate their brands with the club? Have his actions caused sponsors to walk away from naming rights deals during the past six year? Is Levy’s failure to secure deals with traditional “selling clubs” proof that, under his leadership, Tottenham is no longer a “big six” club?

Across the Premier League

Has Levy’s hubris priced Tottenham out of the market for other targets now that every club knows Spurs are desperate to sign an attacking midfielder. Did he neglect to pursue other options while wasting weeks on two failed deals? How could he fail to sign a replacement for the injured James Maddison in three weeks, while Arsenal did so in three days? Did he really enlist Fabio Paratici to help Crystal Palace sign Bilal El-Khannouss as Eze’s replacement? Are his negotiation tactics so toxic that Manchester City, Aston Villa or AS Monaco will now summarily reject any offer for Savinho, Morgan Rogers or Maghnes Akliouche?

The optics of losing Eze are worse than Sol Campbell’s defection to Arsenal while he was Spurs’ captain. But this time, Spurs fans can’t even be upset with Arsenal. The Kroenkes approached Eze months ago. The player agreed to terms with his boyhood club. They backed out of the deal and gave Spurs free reign to sign the star midfielder. When Kai Haavertz got injured, they moved quickly to seal the deal, while Daniel Levy was focused on shafting Steve Parish out of a few million quid. Fair play to them. They have taught Tottenham a lesson that will resonate painfully for decades—this is how a big club operates.

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Thomas Frank spares Tottenham forward from last

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Thomas Frank spares Tottenham forward from last-minute transfer - Hotspur HQ
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Tottenham Hotspur were so close to completing a deal for attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, but, ultimately, Crystal Palace and the England international decided to break Spurs hearts and go with Arsenal, who presented a sweeter offer to the Eagles than Daniel Levy did.

As Spurs scramble for an actual replacement for the injured duo of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski so the No. 10 position is occupied by a valid playmaker in the 2025/26 season, they are also still mulling over other transfers like a new winger or defender - or even a few sales.

The most high-profile players linked with moves away from Tottenham are center midfielder Yves Bissouma and striker Richarlison, and while Bissouma remains someone Spurs want to let go of, the Brazilian international has totally changed his fortunes.

According to a new report from Eduardo Burgos of Diario AS, Richarlison will not be leaving this summer. Thomas Frank did not entertain the idea of offering up the veteran forward as a makeweight in the deal with Crystal Palace for Eberechi Eze. He believes in Richarlson as a part of the squad for the 2025/26 season, with Burgos going so far as to say that Frank views him as "crucial".

Tottenham can't make superfluous transfers

That can be evident through the first two games of the season against PSG and Burnley, too. Richarlison was active and even brilliant against Paris, constantly causing danger with his movement and willingness to get into the box and into scoring positions.

His effort paid off in the Premier League opener, with the 28-year-old grabbing two goals in the 3-0 win, getting himself five shots in total while completing two dribbles. He even worked on the defensive end, too, snagging a cool three clearances.

The transfer rumors surrounding Richarlison have come to a dead stop, and that's because Frank continues to cement his belief in the player. With his acrobatics, raw talent, and Premier League experience, Richarlison is much better than anyone Spurs could realistically sign at striker at this point, and Richarlison is also more valuable to Spurs than what he'd gain in transfer capital elsewhere.

Plus, Tottenham can't just sell Richarlison and sign a more expensive striker in a lateral move. They need to pinch every penny of Daniel Levy and ENIC's they can in order to sign two attacking midfielders, a winger, and potentially a depth signing to bolster the forgotten needs in the squad at other positions.

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Tottenham readying move for first valid James Maddison replacement

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Tottenham readying move for first valid James Maddison replacement - Hotspur HQ
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Tottenham Hotspur are reeling at the playmaker position, and it showed in their blown lead to PSG in the UEFA Supercup Final to kick off the 2025/26 campaign. Spurs won't have James Maddison for the foreseeable future due to a torn ACL, while his emergency replacement, winger Dejan Kulusevski, is also out for a while with a knee injury.

Having missed out on two established Premier League stars in the attacking midfield in Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White, Tottenham are scrambling with less than 10 days left in the summer 2025 transfer window to fill this all-important need in Thomas Frank's squad. After the way Spurs let those two marquee transfers collapse, the fans have absolutely no faith in Daniel Levy or the club's brass to back the incredibly talented tactician Frank - if they had any faith left at all.

Tottenham have been filing through a host of attacking midfield names that are either impossible to sign right now in the window or are simply underwhelming, like Tyler Dibling. However, a name has been floated back in Spurs direction after weeks of the trail going cold, and this one actually makes some sense.

Appearing on Fichajes MARCA, reporter Diego Rico said that Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a transfer bid to Como for attacking midfielder Nico Paz, who additionally has a buy-back clause to Real Madrid for just nine million euros next year.

Tottenham need to take Real Madrid out of the equation

Real Madrid could have signed Paz for a meager eight million euros this summer after his big Serie A breakout in 2024/25 after his six million euro bargain move to the ambitious Como, but Madrid already have enough mouths to feed in the attack and midfield. But of course, Paz is a bargain at that price and if he plays any better, Xabi Alonso could change his mind, even with Franco Mastantuono set to start already as a new teenage phenom in the Spanish capital.

Tottenham need to snag playmaking talent before the clock runs out, and while detractors will state that they want someone proven from the Premier League like Eze or Gibbs-White were, the reality is that those top options no longer exist on the market. And Tottenham have had great luck with signing stars from Serie A and the Bundesliga in the past. Players like Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, and Dejan Kulusevski are key to Tottenham's success but were proven in Italy and not England.

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Tottenham go for the one No. 10 fans don't want

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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.

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Tottenham's latest injury blow seals a vital transfer decision

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Tottenham Hotspur fans already had a low bar set for expectations from the club, but somehow Daniel Levy managed to limbo underneath the surface of the earth to sneak underneath said bar. The way Spurs blew the Morgan GIbbs-White and Eberechi Eze transfers has been nothing short of remarkable, with the loss of Eze to Arsenal standing as an unforgivable transfer crime in the eyes of a perpetually disappointed fanbase.

Even before James Maddison went down with a torn ACL, Tottenham were already desperate to sign another attacking midfielder, which is why they thought they had a deal planned with GIbbs-White in the first place. But after the No. 10 went down, signing Eze should have been a matter of life and death for Daniel Levy.

The need for a new No. 10 has only increased now, too. Tottenham knew that Dejan Kulusevski would need about another month to get healthy after a knee injury at the end of the 2024/25 season, but, now, it looks like the Spurs midfielder/winger will need even more time to get on the pitch.

According to a report from The Guardian's David Hytner, Kulusevski is now expected to be out until January of next year after undergoing surgery. It's a devastating blow to Tottenham, taking one of their best right wingers and playmakers out of the equation, and it means that Spurs now have no first or emergency-choice No. 10's for the next four to five months of the 2025/26 season.

Tottenham have no playmaking quality

Tottenham have to sign a playmaker now. And because Kulusevski is out until 2025 and for nearly as long as Maddison with every chance of a further prolonged timeline or aggravation, Tottenham absolutely have to listen to Thomas Frank's initial request and sign two No. 10's.

Right now, they have no real playmaking talent of which to speak. That was highlighted strongly by their blown lead against PSG, as their goals were both by the superstar center backs on set pieces. And although they put three past Burnley in a commanding opening display, a lot of the great work was done by Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus individually.

The right playmaker can unlock the rest of this Tottenham attack. Not signing anybody and not having cover for the new guy would be akin to self immolation for Spurs. Tottenham are toast if they don't respond to the latest Kulusevski injury blow with an even more aggressive transfer approach.

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Tottenham quoted same price as Eberechi Eze for a worse No. 10

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Tottenham quoted same price as Eberechi Eze for a worse No. 10 - Hotspur HQ
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Tottenham Hotspur supporters watched in horror as a seemingly settled deal for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze was turned on its head, as Eze instead joined bitter rivals Arsenal to combine with Martin Odegaard.

Whereas Arsenal now have two, potentially three pending Ethan Nwaneri's involvement, top-class No. 10's, Tottenham don't even have one. Their best playmaker, James Maddison, is out for the foreseeable future with a torn ACL.

So now Tottenham are left scrambling to sign a No. 10 after now striking out on at least five different legitimate transfer targets this summer in Rayan Cherki, James McAtee, Morgan Gibbs-White, Xavi Simons, and now Eze.

Next up on the list is anyone's guess, but one player Tottenham have been looking at for a while as an option in the attacking midfield or on the wing is young Monaco standout Maghnes Akliouche, who has been watched around the Premier League this summer.

Tottenham should have went harder for Eberechi Eze

According to a report from Gary Jacob of The Times, Akliouche would not come at any sort of a discount for Tottenham, though, Jacob writes that the price Monaco have set for Akliouche is a cool 60 million pounds, based on what they asked from Inter Milan when the Nerazzurri enquired about the 23-year-old breakout star.

Akliouche bagged 5 goals with 10 assists, 1.6 dribbles completed per game, and even 1.6 tackles per match for the Monegasque in Ligue 1 last season. The versatile French attacker is one of the best young forwards in European football right now, and with his playmaking ability and willingness to defend, he should be even better as a 10 than a right winger.

The thing is, 60 million pounds is a lot of money, and even though Akliouche is a few years younger than Eberechi Eze, there's no way you can look at his numbers and say he is better. Eze is a superior goal-scorer, creator, and dribbler, and unlike Akliouche, he is proven in the Premier League, which seems to be important to Thomas Frank and Tottenham based on their other transfer targets.

Akliouche is a very good footballer with additional upside, and he should be one of the top alternatives to Eze for Tottenham. At this point, beggars can't be choosers. But the fact that Tottenham could end up signing Akliouche for around the same price as what they could have signed Eze for, if they were more proactive, only makes missing out on Eze sting that much more for the Tottenham faithful.

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Fabrizio Romano reveals Tottenham's 3 transfer targets after Eberechi Eze snub

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Fabrizio Romano reveals Tottenham's 3 transfer targets after Eberechi Eze snub - Hotspur HQ
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Tottenham Hotspur are, once again, victims of one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer. Not too long after Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest snubbed them to stay with his current club despite a deal apparently being done, Crystal Palace star attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, likewise, stunned Spurs by picking hated rivals Arsenal over them at the last possible second, just when everyone thought he was heading to Spurs to replace an injured James Maddison.

With less than 10 days left in the summer 2025 transfer window, Spurs are now left scrambling to sign a replacement for the FA Cup winner they never signed. Tottenham need an attacking midfielder. Heck, they need more than one of them, because they were already going for the likes of Gibbs-White before Maddison's devastating knee injury even happened.

According to a report from Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel, there are three notable names Tottenham Hotspur are currently looking at as transfer alternatives to Eberechi Eze. The first is Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling, the second is Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, and the third is RB Leipzig superstar Xavi Simons.

Dibling has been linked to Tottenham before, but he's by far the least enticing of the options. Although he's very talented, Dibling hasn't really done anything in the Premier League to prove that he's ready to be a key player for a Champions League level club like Tottenham, and with Maddison injured for a while, Spurs need someone who can reliable start - not someone whose future is only debatably as bright as loanee Mikey Moore's.

Tottenham have one dream target above all the others

Simons is the best of the three players, but he feels like a pipe dream at this point. He's already made it clear that he wants to join Chelsea, which Romano himself reiterates in the report, and Tottenham are so far behind the eight ball with the Bundesliga midifelder that they might as well save themselves from further humilitation and focus their time and resources elsewhere.

That elsewhere could be another very difficult target and yet another proven Premier League star in Morgan Rogers, who was one of the biggest breakout players in the league last season alongside another great attacker Spurs didn't sign, Bryan Mbeumo.

Rogers's hard work, unselfishness, and end product yielded 8 goals, 10 assists, 1.4 key passes per game, 1.8 dribbles completed per match, 1.4 fouls drawn per contest, and 1.2 tackles per appearance as arguably Villa's best player of the season.

Those are numbers Tottenham could certainly do with, and Frank would love a player with Rogers's work rate and well-roundedness. Spurs are said to view him as almost the perfect player to sign and their dream target of all the three playmakers, but Romano notes that those around the transfer market feel that he is just about impossible. But the impossible is what Spurs owe to their fans after the Gibbs-White and Eze sagas.

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