Transfermarkt

Tottenham are set to lose out to Arsenal once again on the transfer market. The two English Premier League clubs are interested in Piero Hincapié and Arsenal are now set to sign the Leverkusen defender. The Athletic reported on Friday that Arsenal have reached a deal with Leverkusen to sign Hincapié for €52 million plus a 10% sell-on clause. The North London rivals also went head-to-head for Eberechi Eze with the England international opting to join Mikel Arteta’s men. It was a hugely embarrassing episode for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy with a sizeable section of the Spurs support believing the 63-year-old should have moved earlier for Eze.

Now history has repeated itself with Arsenal having beaten out Spurs for the signature of Bayer Leverkusen star Hincapié. Tottenham made an initial loan to buy offer for Hincapie that was rejected by Leverkusen. Initially, Leverkusen wanted any club to meet Hincapié's exit clause of €60m. But with Hincapié pushing for an exit, Leverkusen were willing to agree to a deal that comes in just below the initial €60m. Indeed, David Ornstein always suggested that Hincapié would prefer a move to Arsenal and is now getting his wish.

Arsenal and Tottenham chase Piero Hincapié

Hincapie wanted to leave Leverkusen this summer and said goodbye to the fans following his club's 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim last Saturday. Although he’s contracted with the Bundesliga club until 2029. Leverkusen wanted to keep Hincapié but the player was pushing hard for a move away.

Tottenham’s initial offer was for a loan bid with an obligation to buy for his €60m release clause next summer. Arsenal came in late with a bid having to wait to offload players first - Porto are set to complete a €20m deal for Jakub Kiwior. Hincapie is predominantly a centre-back but he can also be deployed at left-back, which is a huge appeal to Arsenal and Tottenham. The defender was tearful after Erik ten Hag's men's 2-1 weekend defeat to Hoffenheim in an indication of his desire to leave.

Xavi Simons has completed his move to Tottenham from RB Leipzig. A transfer to Chelsea had looked on the cards for much of the summer, but North London will now be the Dutchman's new home. The fee is expected to be an initial €65 million, with a further €5m in add-ons, which means the 22-year-old will now become Tottenham's most expensive ever transfer, eclipsing the €64m they paid for Dominic Solanke last summer. Simons also become the third most expensive player to leave RB Leipzig, and the second major transfer from Leipzig to the Premier League this summer afte the Red Bulls sold Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United earlier this summer.

For Tottenham, it's the third signing from the Bundesliga this summer. The London club has already signed João Palhinha and Mathys Tel, who was previously on loan, from Bayern Munich. Altogether, Tottenham’s transfer spending this summer is now over €200m and sees Spurs move into the top five clubs with the most money spent this transfer window.

What can Xavi Simons add to Tottenham

The Dutch national team player has been linked with several clubs over the last few weeks and months even. Among the clubs interested were Chelsea, who is now exploring other options, and Bayern Munich. Now Tottenham have won the race for Simons. But what sort of player is Simons? Trained in Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Simons joined PSG’s academy in 2019. But his big breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven in his native Netherlands, where he scored 19 goals and provided eight assists in the 2022/23 season. PSV had signed Simons on a free transfer from PSG in a deal that included a €4m buyback option, which was exercised in the summer of 2023.

Rather than returning to PSG, though, Leipzig loaned Simons that summer. That loan was extended the following season with an option to buy worth €50m, which Leipzig exercised last summer. The €50m deal also allows PSG to participate in any potential future transfer. Even then, Leipzig are set to make money on the deal. But in Simons, the club will lose quality on the pitch. A classic playmaker who, when needed, can also play on the wing, Simons has scored 22 goals and provided 24 assists in 78 games across all competitions for Leipzig.

An elegant player, who can make the players around him better when on form, his biggest shortcoming can be his attitude. When off, Simons disappears at times, and his dressing room behaviour has also caused some consternation in Leipzig. Nonetheless, when on his game, Xavi Simons can be world-class, and if Thomas Frank can keep him disciplined, the Dutchman will be a star in the Premier League.

Xavi Simons has completed his move to Tottenham from RB Leipzig. A transfer to Chelsea had looked on the cards for much of the summer, but North London will now be the Dutchman's new home. The fee is expected to be an initial €65 million, with a further €5m in add-ons, which means the 22-year-old will now become Tottenham's most expensive ever transfer, eclipsing the €64m they paid for Dominic Solanke last summer. Simons also become the third most expensive player to leave RB Leipzig, and the second major transfer from Leipzig to the Premier League this summer afte the Red Bulls sold Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United earlier this summer.

For Tottenham, it's the third signing from the Bundesliga this summer. The London club has already signed João Palhinha and Mathys Tel, who was previously on loan, from Bayern Munich. Altogether, Tottenham’s transfer spending this summer is now over €200m and sees Spurs move into the top five clubs with the most money spent this transfer window.

What can Xavi Simons add to Tottenham

The Dutch national team player has been linked with several clubs over the last few weeks and months even. Among the clubs interested were Chelsea, who is now exploring other options, and Bayern Munich. Now Tottenham have won the race for Simons. But what sort of player is Simons? Trained in Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Simons joined PSG’s academy in 2019. But his big breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven in his native Netherlands, where he scored 19 goals and provided eight assists in the 2022/23 season. PSV had signed Simons on a free transfer from PSG in a deal that included a €4m buyback option, which was exercised in the summer of 2023.

Rather than returning to PSG, though, Leipzig loaned Simons that summer. That loan was extended the following season with an option to buy worth €50m, which Leipzig exercised last summer. The €50m deal also allows PSG to participate in any potential future transfer. Even then, Leipzig are set to make money on the deal. But in Simons, the club will lose quality on the pitch. A classic playmaker who, when needed, can also play on the wing, Simons has scored 22 goals and provided 24 assists in 78 games across all competitions for Leipzig.

An elegant player, who can make the players around him better when on form, his biggest shortcoming can be his attitude. When off, Simons disappears at times, and his dressing room behaviour has also caused some consternation in Leipzig. Nonetheless, when on his game, Xavi Simons can be world-class, and if Thomas Frank can keep him disciplined, the Dutchman will be a star in the Premier League.

Xavi Simons is set to leave RB Leipzig and head to England. But a transfer to Chelsea for now appears to be off the table. Transfermarkt can confirm an initial report by Bild that Simons’ camp is currently in negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur. The Red Bulls have confirmed that the 22-year-old playmaker is currently on leave from the club to sort out his future. German broadcaster Sky claims that Chelsea remain in the race. The Blues, however, must first earn money, and whether selling Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan is enough remains to be seen.

Also, unlike Chelsea, Tottenham has now made an official offer to RB Leipzig. Transfermarkt can confirm an initial report by Sky that Tottenham have offered €70m all in to sign Simons—a deal of that size would meet Simons' market value as well as Leipzig’s evaluation of the player. If accepted, Simons would become the third most expensive player to leave Leipzig. Simons would also be the second major transfer from Leipzig to the Premier League. The Red Bulls sold Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United in a deal worth €85m, including bonuses, earlier this summer.

For Tottenham, it would be the third signing from the Bundesliga this summer. The London club has already signed João Palhinha and Mathys Tel, who was previously on loan, from Bayern Munich. Altogether, Tottenham’s transfer spending this summer is €145.6m, and the €70m would see them crack the €200m mark and see Spurs move into the top five among clubs with the most money spent this summer. On top of that, Simons would be the most expensive signing in Tottenham’s club history.

Set to beat out other clubs - What can Xavi Simons add to Tottenham

The Dutch national team player has been linked with several clubs over the last few weeks and months even. Among the clubs interested were Chelsea, which is now exploring other options, and Bayern Munich. Now Tottenham are set to win the race for Simons. But what sort of player is Simons? Trained in Barca’s La Masia academy, Simons joined PSG’s academy in 2019. But his big breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven in his native Netherlands, where he scored 19 goals and eight assists in the 2022/23 season. PSV had signed Simons on a free transfer from PSG in a deal that included a €4m buyback option, which was exercised in the summer of 2023.

Rather than returning to PSG, though, Leipzig loaned Simons that summer. That loan was extended the following season with an option to buy worth €50m, which Leipzig exercised last summer. The €50m deal also allows PSG to participate in any potential future transfer. Even then, Leipzig are set to make money on the deal. But in Simons, the club will lose quality on the pitch. A classic playmaker who, when needed, can also play on the wing, Simons has scored 22 goals and provided 24 assists in 78 games across all competitions for Leipzig. An elegant player, who can make the players around him better when on form, his biggest shortcoming can be his attitude. When off, Simons disappears at times, and his dressing room behaviour has also caused some consternation in Leipzig. Nonetheless, when on his game, Xavi Simons can be world-class, and if Thomas Frank can keep him disciplined, the Dutchman will be a star in the Premier League.

The summer transfer window is now in its final two weeks and many sides are still on the hunt for new signings. The biggest clubs in European football and clubs across the continent are still midway through their plans for next season. Teams are working tirelessly behind the scenes on identifying targets and figuring out their budgets.

Managers will be constantly assessing their squads with sporting directors and recruitment staff scanning the market for potential deals. A plethora of players will become available in the summer where clubs famously have more money to spend and aren't as restricted by financial fair play rules. The rumour mill is beginning to pick up pace and we've collated some of the biggest current transfer stories.

Today's biggest transfer stories

Galatasaray will rival Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen for Manuel Akanji. The Switzerland international is likely to leave Manchester City this summer and there's a race for his signature.

Real Madrid could move for Adam Wharton when Dani Ceballos leaves for Marseille. The Spanish midfielder is edging closer to joining the Ligue 1 side and Madrid want midfield reinforcements. Los Blancos have a long-standing interest in Wharton and they've also been linked with Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo.

Tottenham and Arsenal are poised for another direct battle over a player this summer with both English Premier League clubs interested in Piero Hincapié. The North London rivals went head-to-head for Eberechi Eze with the England international opting to join Mikel Arteta’s men. It was a hugely embarrassing episode for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy with a sizeable section of the Spurs support believing the 63-year-old should have moved earlier for Eze.

But history could repeat itself with Arsenal now rivaling Spurs for the signature of Bayer Leverkusen star Hincapié. It’s understood that Tottenham have already submitted an official offer to Hincapie with Arsenal yet to make a formal bid but they’ve made an approach. But David Ornstein has suggested that Hincapié would prefer a move to Arsenal and that could represent an unwelcome episode for Spurs.

Arsenal and Tottenham chase Piero Hincapié

It’s understood that Hincapie wants to leave Leverkusen this summer, although he’s contracted with the Bundesliga club until 2029. Leverkusen, however, would ideally keep the Ecuador international but he does have a €60m release clause in his contract. It’s unlikely that either North London club would be willing to activate that this summer and his current market value on Transfermarkt is €60m.

Tottenham’s initial offer was for a loan bid with an obligation to buy for his €60m release clause next summer. Arsenal are yet to make a bid but the New York Times has claimed that their interest could be reliant on their ability to offload unwanted stars - Porto are advancing on a €20m deal for Jakub Kiwior. Hincapie is predominantly a centre-back but he can also be deployed at left-back, which is a huge appeal to Arsenal and Tottenham. The defender was tearful after Erik ten Hag's men's 2-1 weekend defeat to Hoffenheim in an indication of his desire to leave.

Tottenham and Arsenal are poised for another direct battle over a player this summer with both English Premier League clubs interested in Piero Hincapié. The North London rivals went head-to-head for Eberechi Eze with the England international opting to join Mikel Arteta’s men. It was a hugely embarrassing episode for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy with a sizeable section of the Spurs support believing the 63-year-old should have moved earlier for Eze.

But history could repeat itself with Arsenal now rivaling Spurs for the signature of Bayer Leverkusen star Hincapié. It’s understood that Tottenham have already submitted an official offer to Hincapie with Arsenal yet to make a formal bid but they’ve made an approach. But David Ornstein has suggested that Hincapié would prefer a move to Arsenal and that could represent an unwelcome episode for Spurs.

Arsenal and Tottenham chase Piero Hincapié

It’s understood that Hincapie wants to leave Leverkusen this summer, although he’s contracted with the Bundesliga club until 2029. Leverkusen, however, would ideally keep the Ecuador international but he does have a €60m release clause in his contract. It’s unlikely that either North London club would be willing to activate that this summer and his current market value on Transfermarkt is €60m.

Tottenham’s initial offer was for a loan bid with an obligation to buy for his €60m release clause next summer. Arsenal are yet to make a bid but the New York Times has claimed that their interest could be reliant on their ability to offload unwanted stars - Porto are advancing on a €20m deal for Jakub Kiwior. Hincapie is predominantly a centre-back but he can also be deployed at left-back, which is a huge appeal to Arsenal and Tottenham. The defender was tearful after Erik ten Hag's men's 2-1 weekend defeat to Hoffenheim in an indication of his desire to leave.

Nico Paz showcased his incredible talent with a goal and assist in a man of the match display against Lazio as Como recorded an impressive win on their Serie A return. Paz’s brilliance arrived amid growing speculation around his future with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly having a €50 million bid rejected for the 20-year-old. Nico Paz was undoubtedly one of the breakout stars in Serie A last season and his extraordinary potential means he’s destined for an incredible future.

His standout performances for Como have highlighted why Real Madrid were so reluctant to sell last summer but the Champions League holders have protected their decision with an advantageous buy-back option. And it’s been reported by Fabrizio Romano that Madrid played a pivotal role in blocking Tottenham’s interest in Paz as they plan on returning him to the Santiago Bernabeu next season.

Real Madrid’s ultimate plan for Nico Paz

It’s no secret that Madrid inserted a favourable buy-back clause in the deal to sell Paz to Como and it was essentially a prerequisite to the Spanish giants agreeing to his departure. To many, Paz’s spell in the Lombardy region is effectively a loan spell and former Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted, last season, that the talented midfielder represents 'the future of Madrid'. It’s understood that Mardid possess an option to re-sign Paz for €9 million this summer and that increases incrementally by €1m every summer until 2027 - his Como contract expires in 2028.

Paz has confessed that it remains his dream to return to the Spanish capital and Madrid are delighted with his unquestionable development at Como. Transfermarkt understands that Madrid plan on exercising their buy-back clause next summer and could even pay Como slightly above their €10m option for allowing Paz to flourish. There’s been reports that Como value Paz around €70m but that’s essentially irrelevant as Madrid wouldn’t allow a sale, as they could just buy him back and sell him themselves to earn a substantial profit. While Tottenham are clearly interested in Paz, it seems incredibly unlikely that he will join Thomas Frank’s men this summer due to the aforementioned factors.

How good is Nico Paz

Born in Tenerife, Paz has opted to represent Argentina over Spain and the 20-year-old was rewarded for his excellence at Como with his international debut in October. The prodigiously talented starlet garnered attention when he scored for Madrid against Napoli in the Champions League just weeks after his 19th birthday in 2023 but it’s in Italy that he’s truly forged his reputation amid the picturesque backdrop of the Alps and Lake Como.The Argentina international stands at over 6ft but he perfectly balances his impressive physicality with an elegance that makes him extremely effective and a delight to watch.

Nico Paz showcased his incredible talent with a goal and assist in a man of the match display against Lazio as Como recorded an impressive win on their Serie A return. Paz’s brilliance arrived amid growing speculation around his future with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly having a €50 million bid rejected for the 20-year-old. Nico Paz was undoubtedly one of the breakout stars in Serie A last season and his extraordinary potential means he’s destined for an incredible future.

His standout performances for Como have highlighted why Real Madrid were so reluctant to sell last summer but the Champions League holders have protected their decision with an advantageous buy-back option. And it’s been reported by Fabrizio Romano that Madrid played a pivotal role in blocking Tottenham’s interest in Paz as they plan on returning him to the Santiago Bernabeu next season.

Real Madrid’s ultimate plan for Nico Paz

It’s no secret that Madrid inserted a favourable buy-back clause in the deal to sell Paz to Como and it was essentially a prerequisite to the Spanish giants agreeing to his departure. To many, Paz’s spell in the Lombardy region is effectively a loan spell and former Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted, last season, that the talented midfielder represents 'the future of Madrid'. It’s understood that Mardid possess an option to re-sign Paz for €9 million this summer and that increases incrementally by €1m every summer until 2027 - his Como contract expires in 2028.

Paz has confessed that it remains his dream to return to the Spanish capital and Madrid are delighted with his unquestionable development at Como. Transfermarkt understands that Madrid plan on exercising their buy-back clause next summer and could even pay Como slightly above their €10m option for allowing Paz to flourish. There’s been reports that Como value Paz around €70m but that’s essentially irrelevant as Madrid wouldn’t allow a sale, as they could just buy him back and sell him themselves to earn a substantial profit. While Tottenham are clearly interested in Paz, it seems incredibly unlikely that he will join Thomas Frank’s men this summer due to the aforementioned factors.

How good is Nico Paz

Born in Tenerife, Paz has opted to represent Argentina over Spain and the 20-year-old was rewarded for his excellence at Como with his international debut in October. The prodigiously talented starlet garnered attention when he scored for Madrid against Napoli in the Champions League just weeks after his 19th birthday in 2023 but it’s in Italy that he’s truly forged his reputation amid the picturesque backdrop of the Alps and Lake Como.The Argentina international stands at over 6ft but he perfectly balances his impressive physicality with an elegance that makes him extremely effective and a delight to watch.

There’s arguably nothing worse for a football fan than losing out in a derby game, but a player deciding to snub your club in favour of your biggest rival arguably eclipses that. It’s never straightforward getting over a derby defeat but other games arrive quickly on the horizon. However, watching a player that you’ve been dreaming about, pulling on the shirt of your rivals can only hurt.

That’s a feeling that Tottenham fans will soon experience with Eberechi Eze opting for their North London rivals after Arsenal hijacked a deal for the Crystal Palace star. Spurs had agreed a fee with Palace for the England international but Arsenal revived their interest at the last-minute, after an injury to Kai Havertz, and Eze preferred Mikel Arteta’s men. The 27-year-old is expected to finalise his move to Arsenal before the weekend in a deal that could reach €78 million. Meanwhile, Thomas Frank must move onto alternative targets and we’ve analysed six options with market values under €60m on Transfermarkt.

Six alternatives to Tottenham for Eberechi Eze

It’s understood that Savinho is Tottenham’s priority target after missing out on Eze. Spurs made enquiries to Manchester City over the Brazilian’s availability earlier in the window but City intimated that he wasn’t for sale. Pep Guardiola also insisted that he wanted to keep Savinho, stating: “I am only concerned right now that Savinho will be with us for the rest of the season and hopefully many years, because of the potential he has at 21. He has to improve in final positions but he is an extraordinary player.” Ultimately, every player has a price and Man City value Savinho at around €80m and despite their stance, they could be open to selling as they pursue a move for Rodrygo. City will also net a huge profit after signing the 21-year-old for just €25m last summer and he provided 16 goal contributions during his first season in England.

Morgan Rogers could prove even more difficult to extract from Aston Villa than Savinho from Man City. The England international was outstanding last season with 30 goal involvements in 54 games and he was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year on Tuesday night. Rogers is Villa’s prized asset and Unai Emery will be determined to keep him in the Midlands amid an underwhelming transfer window. Villa’s financial issues have been in the spotlight this summer and there could be a temptation to cash in but it would require a club record fee from Tottenham. Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Spurs are interested and could Daniel Levy make a move to appease disgruntled fans?

Maghnes Akliouche has been on the radar of top European clubs for several years and Tottenham have monitored his development. The Monaco starlet is predominantly a right-winger and therefore represents a different profile to Eze but Mohammed Kudus could comfortably play from the left. It’s understood that Spurs view Akliouche as a potential cheaper option than Savinho but Monaco will want to hold onto the former French U21 international as they prepare for Champions League football. The 23-year-old provided 19 goal involvements last season, including the opening goal in a famous win over Barcelona.

Everton have been pursuing a deal for Tyler Dibling this summer but they’ve been unable to agree a fee with Southampton and Tottenham could provide competition. Unlike Everton, Spurs can offer Champions League football and a more lucrative contract, which could prove appealing for the 19-year-old. Although he only registered three goal involvements in 33 games last season, Dibling showed incredible promise in a woeful Southampton team with his dribbling ability particularly eye-catching.

Chelsea and Tottenham are rivals which could complicate any deal for Christopher Nkunku but a quick glance across North London will show that Enzo Maresca’s men are happy to do business with clubs from the same city. Nkunku arrived amid huge expectation at Chelsea for €60m in 2023 after 126 goal involvements in 172 for RB Leipzig but the Frenchman has struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League. Nkunku remains a quality performer, when fit, with RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich keen on returning him to the Bundesliga.