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Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing forward with negotiations to sign a Premier League-proven midfielder, who has expressed a willingness to move to N17.

According to reports over recent days, signing an attacking midfielder has now become a priority for Tottenham after the injury to James Maddison.

Regular readers of Spurs Web will be aware that a number of sources over the last few weeks have claimed that Harvey Elliott is one of the names at the top of Tottenham’s wishlist.

It was reported by The Mirror a couple of days ago that RB Leipzig are pushing ahead with talks over a deal for Elliott, but it now looks like Spurs have responded by stepping up their interest in the 22-year-old.

Harvey Elliott’s move to Tottenham is said to be advancing

Football Transfers now say that Spurs are making ‘significant progress’ in their pursuit of Elliott after stepping up talks with Liverpool.

The report claims that Tottenham had already expressed an interest in the England Under-21 international earlier in the summer, but there is now an urgency in the negotiations following James Maddison’s ACL injury.

The outlet reveals that Thomas Frank is a fan of the Reds star and has already held conversations with the player regarding a move to N17.

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The Dane pitched a vision to Elliott of deploying him as a number ten, with the Tottenham head coach believing that the player’s technical and physical qualities will make him a good fit for his Spurs side.

Elliott’s and Liverpool’s stance revealed

According to Football Transfers, the Liverpool star is keen on getting regular football under his belt and sees a switch to Tottenham as an ‘ideal opportunity’ to stake a claim in England’s World Cup squad.

Liverpool are open to selling Elliott to Spurs for £40m, but they are insistent on adding a buy-back clause to the deal.

Interestingly, the publication asserts that Tottenham are willing to meet all of Liverpool’s demands, including the insertion of a buy-back clause.

Thomas Frank has wasted little time in putting in one of his first requests to improve the facilities at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground.

Tottenham’s Hotspur Way facility is regarded as one of the most impressive training grounds in world football, having first opened its doors back in 2012.

Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham head coach in June has been busy with pre-season preparations which have included trips to Hong Kong, South Korea and Germany.

The Dane is currently preparing his players ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final against PSG in Italy.

Thomas Frank requests padel court at Hotspur Way

Despite the abundance of facilities currently at Hotspur Way which includes a putting green having been added to he complex in 2019, a padel court is currently being installed at the state-of-the-art complex, according to the Daily Mail.

Frank is understood to be a keen padel player during his time in charge of Brentford, where a court was added during his time in charge of the Bees.

Hotspur Way also boasts player accommodation called, the Lodge which is adjacent to the training ground where players and backroom staff can stay within a 40-bedroom, two-floor, purpose-built crescent building.

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Investment also needs to be made in the first-team squad

Daniel Levy wants Tottenham to win the Premier League and Champions League having made the claim in a recent interview with the club, something which seems to be completely unrealistic given the current shortage of depth in the first-team squad.

We all witnessed Ange Postecoglou struggle at times with the fixture schedule of trying to field strong teams in the Europa League and Premier League, with our domestic form having been the worst in living memory.

If Levy wants to compete, a padel pitch is great for team morale but significant investment has to be made in the first-team before the transfer window closes.

Jermain Defoe says one midfield target already looks like a natural Tottenham Hotspur player, given the way he plays his football.

James Maddison’s injury blow comes at a time when Dejan Kulusevski is already sidelined, and it thus comes as no surprise that signing an attacking midfielder has become a priority for Thomas Frank.

Several number tens from across the Premier League have been linked with a move to Tottenham, including Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

The England international will not come cheap this summer, but Defoe feels that signing him would be a no-brainer for the Lilywhites.

Jermain Defoe insists Eberechi Eze is a natural fit for Tottenham

Over the years, Tottenham have had several technically gifted number tens who get the fans off their seats with their guile and creativity, and Defoe believes that Eze very much fits that mould.

The former Spurs striker described the England international as ‘special’ and admitted that he would love to see him at N17.

Defoe told talkSPORT: “Eze is someone who, if this makes sense, is a Tottenham player, someone who plays with freedom, and you look at the great players over the years that the players have had.

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“Technically, how good he is and how confident he is and another special footballer. If that can happen, then it will be only good for the team, because when you get the injuries, you need to replace these players.”

Tottenham may have to battle Arsenal for Eze

Over recent weeks, plenty of outlets have reported that Arsenal have emerged as the front-runners for the £68m Eze.

However, it was reported by GiveMeSport on Saturday that Crystal Palace have encouraged Tottenham to make offers for the attacking midfielder, with the Eagles keen to get a bidding war going between the two North London sides.

The report added that Thomas Frank has approved the signing of Eze, but Spurs are continuing to assess the various options in the market.

Tottenham Hotspur made a last-minute attempt to hijack Chelsea’s move for a full-back a couple of weeks ago, but the Lilywhites were unsuccessful in their pursuit.

Since James Maddison’s injury news came to light, the topic that has dominated the headlines is which attacking midfielder Tottenham will sign this summer.

There has also been a lot of speculation on potential big-name forwards Spurs could turn to as Heung-min Son’s replacement.

However, the Lilywhites are also thought to be looking for additions to their back line, with several sources claiming that Thomas Frank wants to add a left-back to his squad.

Tottenham failed with a late move for Jorrel Hato

Jorrel Hato completed a £37m move to Chelsea a little over a week ago on the back of a couple of outstanding seasons for Ajax.

It has now been revealed by journalist Ben Jacobs that Tottenham Hotspur tried to hijack the deal for the Netherlands international, but it was too late in the end.

Jacobs said on The Last Word on Spurs podcast: “There is a possibility that another left back is looked at. For example, nothing came of it, but very soon after Chelsea came formally to the table for Jorrel Hato, Tottenham put in an enquiry to Ajax as well. It didn’t lead to anything, but it shows you that there’s a young profile of left back that Tottenham are prepared to consider.

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“So, let’s see if they sort of stick with Ben Davies, knowing that he’s valued on and off the field, or actually, they try and bring in a sort of teenage profile of left back to compete with Destiny Udogie. But either way, I don’t think we’re done with the exploration of the left back position.”

What is the latest on Destiny Udogie?

Signing a left-back has perhaps become an even bigger priority for the Lilywhites, given Udogie’s troubling injury record over the last 12 months.

Concerningly, the Italy international has barely kicked a ball in pre-season, and the club has not shared much information about his status.

Tottenham Hotspur may be set to re-enter the race to land Eberechi Eze after James Maddison’s injury, with the Lilywhites potentially set to go toe-to-toe with Arsenal for the Crystal Palace star.

Spurs fans will be aware that, at the start of the summer transfer window, Tottenham had been installed as the favourites to land Eze.

However, the speculation linking the 27-year-old with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has died down over the last month.

Instead, it is Arsenal who have made advances towards Eze over recent weeks, but it turns out that the door may have been opened for the Lilywhites to try again for the England international.

Crystal Palace are encouraging Tottenham to bid for Eberechi Eze

GiveMeSport have now revealed that the Eagles are encouraging Tottenham to battle Arsenal for the playmaker, with the South London club keen to get a bidding war going for their star man.

The outlet confirms that the Gunners have been ‘strongly interested’ in Eze for much of the summer, but they are currently prioritising player sales.

This has opened the door for Tottenham to swoop in, with the club keen to bolster their options in the number ten role after James Maddison’s ACL injury.

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In fact, it is alleged that Thomas Frank has already given the green light for the Palace star to be brought through the door, thus raising the possibility of a potential bidding war between the two North London giants.

How much would Eze cost Spurs this summer?

GiveMeSport say that Eze’s release clause, which stood at £68m with add-ons, has already expired, which means that Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal would have to strike a deal with the Eagles for the player.

However, the report claims that Oliver Glasner’s men are willing to sell the former QPR man for a similar fee as long as certain conditions are met.

The publication adds that Tottenham have been slow to substantiate their interest and have not formally contacted Palace over a deal for Eze, with Frank’s men being ‘very thorough in exploring all potential market opportunities’.

One Tottenham academy graduate believes that Daniel Levy is the best chairman across the Premier League by far, given how much the North London club has grown in stature during his tenure.

Levy’s record at Spurs has been the subject of much debate in the media over the last week following the 63-year-old’s in-depth interview with Gary Neville.

During the interview, the Tottenham supremo admitted that the construction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is his biggest achievement during his time at the club.

Levy insisted that he might get his due credit once he leaves Spurs, pointing out that many Premier League clubs are now trying to copy the Lilywhites on their stadium.

Andros Townsend says Tottenham are a ‘big six’ club because of Daniel Levy

Townsend agrees with the Spurs chairman’s assessment, insisting that it is only due to his foresight that Tottenham are now considered part of the ‘big six’.

The former Tottenham winger praised Daniel Levy for transforming the club from a mid-table side to one that can dine among the elite clubs across Europe due to their financial success.

The 34-year-old told talkSPORT: “I’ve said it before, and I’m not afraid to say it. I’ll get some stick, but I think he’s the best chairman in the Premier League by far. Where he’s taking Spurs from to where they are today, it’s chalk and cheese.

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“I remember 10 years ago, Spurs were a mid-table club playing in front of 25,000, not generating enough funds to be able to compete at the top level.

“Brand new training ground, brand new stadium, and now season in, season out they’re competing at the top level, they’re in the Champions League, they won the Europa League, and they’re considered a big six side, whereas before Spurs, it was the big four.

“And now, Spurs have broken into that, not because of their achievements on the pitch, but [because] what Daniel Levy has created, the brand he’s created off the pitch.”

Levy admits he is hurt by Spurs fan protests

While Daniel Levy’s achievements on the business side cannot be disputed, his critics will point to the fact that Tottenham have only won two trophies during his tenure.

In his interview on The Overlap, Levy insisted that his ambition has always been to win trophies and that he hurts as much as anyone when the results are poor.

The Tottenham chairman also admitted that he was hurt by the protests targeted against him last season, but added that he understood the fans’ pain.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Bilal El Khannouss and Harvey Elliott but they are more interested in one than the other this summer.

After James Maddison was ruled out for much of the season with an ACL injury, it has been widely reported that signing a number ten has become a priority for Spurs.

A whole host of attacking midfielders have been mooted as targets for Tottenham over recent weeks, and it is unclear at the moment who the Lilywhites’ top target is.

Among those are Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss and Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, but it has now been revealed that Spurs have decided against pursuing one of the two.

Spurs will not press ahead with a move for Harvey Elliott

This update comes from The Times, who say that Tottenham Hotspur held talks over a deal for Elliott, but they have decided not to pursue the 22-year-old following those initial conversations.

However, the outlet says that El Khannouss is still very much being monitored by the North London club as they remain keen to add ‘depth and quality’ in the final third.

GiveMeSport relay this report from The Times and add that the Leicester man’s versatility appeals to Tottenham, who see the 21-year-old as someone who can offer plenty of options for Thomas Frank in attack.

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Tottenham will face competition for Bilal El Khannouss

A deal for the Moroccan international will not be straightforward for Spurs to complete, with the player having no shortage of admirers in the Premier League.

It was revealed just a few days ago by The Mirror that Aston Villa, Sunderland and Leeds United are ready to challenge Tottenham for El Khannouss.

The same update also revealed that RB Leipzig are now the frontrunners to sign Elliott and are currently holding negotiations with Liverpool over the England Under-21 international.

Fabio Paratici has negotiated a deal to offload a Tottenham attacker to a Serie A side, but all parties are still waiting on one factor to make the move official.

While Spurs fans are keen to see more signings arrive through the door, another disappointing aspect of Tottenham’s performance so far this summer is their inability to offload players who are surplus to requirements for Thomas Frank.

One of those is Bryan Gil, who confirmed as far back as April that he will be leaving Tottenham, and finally, almost four months on, there appears to be some movement on the winger’s future.

It emerged a few days ago that Bologna are locked in talks with Tottenham over a deal for Gil, and there has now been a significant update on the Serie A club’s pursuit of the Spurs man.

Bologna have an agreement in place to sign Bryan Gil from Tottenham

This update comes from the print edition of Corriere dello Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness), who say that Bologna now have a draft agreement ‘in hand’ over the signing of Gil.

The report reveals that the Italian side negotiated the deal with Fabio Paratici, with the 24-year-old expected to join on an initial loan deal.

The loan will include an option to buy next summer, which will become an obligation if certain conditions are met.

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Bologna are now working on agreeing on personal terms with the Spain international, but his wage demands of just over €2m (£1.7m) per season are proving expensive for the club.

Bolonga are assessing Gil’s fitness

Corriere say that an official from the Serie A side is currently in London to assess Gil’s recovery from his knee injury.

The Tottenham Hotspur man will be monitored closely by Bologna over the next few days before they make a final decision on the deal.

Gabby Agbonlahor has urged Jack Grealish to join Tottenham Hotspur this summer and has explained why the Man City star may be the perfect fit for the number ten role at N17, even though he has not played there much recently.

Reports indicate that Tottenham launched an enquiry for Jack Grealish immediately after James Maddison suffered a serious injury against Newcastle a week ago.

This is not the first time the Lilywhites have shown an interest in the Man City star, with Spurs also holding extensive talks with Grealish’s representatives about a move in January.

According to several sources, Grealish is open to a move to Tottenham this summer after Pep Guardiola made it clear to the 29-year-old that he is surplus to requirements.

Gabby Agbonlahor reveals why Jack Grealish may be perfect Tottenham

Not all Spurs fans are convinced that signing Grealish would be the right move, partly because the England international has played almost exclusively as a winger at the Etihad Stadium.

However, Agbonlahor explained that his former teammate was a number ten when he came through the ranks at Aston Villa and pointed out that he has delivered some of his best performances centrally.

The pundit told talkSPORT about Grealish: “When he came through the academy at Villa and into the first team, he wasn’t off the left. He came through as a number 10 – go and play where you like, go and get on the ball. So comfortable with his back to goal, first touch, awareness around him – that number 10’s built for him.

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“Obviously, his time with Dean Smith – off the left, especially in the Premier League when Barkley came in and maybe played in that central role – then Man City’s played him off the left and England as well. But one of the last games he played for his country was against Ireland away – Lee Carsley played him in that number 10 position.

“He was probably the best player on the pitch. He was twisting defenders up, he was running the length of the pitch with the ball, creating chances. Got a goal in that game – I’m sure he did as well.”

Agbonlahor tells Grealish to choose Spurs

Some reports had indicated previously that Napoli were the frontrunners to land Grealish this summer, with Antonio Conte keen on taking the player to the Serie A.

However, Agbonlahor believes that Tottenham Hotspur would be the right next step for the Man City star, backing him to thrive at N17.

The former Aston Villa striker added: “I would go to Spurs (if I were Grealish). I think staying in the Premier League, even though I do like players who try different leagues.

Dele Alli’s attempts to get his career back on track have suffered another setback, with the former Tottenham star searching for a new club again.

The attacking midfielder continues to be a huge fan favourite at Spurs, with Dele Alli chant still being heard at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on occasions.

The Tottenham Hotspur faithful have been rooting for the 29-year-old to rediscover his mojo, but it appears that he will not be doing that at Como, who he joined on a free transfer in January.

The England international got sent off in his only appearance for the Serie A club last season, and according to reports, that will remain the only time he will put on a Como shirt.

Tottenham icon Dele Alli will leave Como this summer

The Athletic have now revealed that Dele will leave Como with immediate effect, just six months on from signing for the club, who are managed by Cesc Fabregas.

The former Tottenham man signed an 18-month contract with the Serie A side, but the parties have now agreed mutually to terminate it.

It was previously reported in Italy that Dele may consider hanging up his boots, but The Athletic deny that claim, insisting that the midfielder has no plans of retiring anytime soon.

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What will Dele’s next step be?

What Dele needs right now is to find happiness playing football again, and he will want to go to an environment where he can express himself on the pitch.

Perhaps a move to Major League Soccer, where his former Spurs teammates, Hugo Lloris and Heung-min Son play, might appeal to the midfielder.

Dele may even consider dropping down to the Championship or League One temporarily in order to rediscover his confidence and swagger.