Football FanCast

If you could encapsulate Tottenham Hotspur in one week it would be the period of days that have just played out. It's classic Spurs, it really is.

On Wednesday, everything looked smooth sailing as far as a deal to sign Eberechi Eze was concerned. This was a spectcular signing, a Premier League proven talent capable of taking Thomas Frank's side to the next level.

Alas, Arsenal swooped in and stole the boyhood Gooner away from their rivals. Eze is now a full-time Gunner, it's time to forget about that saga.

And boy did Spurs forget about it on Saturday afternoon. The Etihad has been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years and they went to Manchester City this weekend and won again, swatting aside Pep Guardiola's side 2-0.

It was a complete defensive performance and the inroads Frank has already made in making Spurs more secure at the back is mightily impressive. Yet, they still need new recruits in the market.

Spurs' remaining transfer plans

Missing out on Eze is a colossal blow. With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison out, the latter with an ACL injury, Spurs desperately need to find more creativity.

They have sourced that in the form of Mohammed Kudus who has enjoyed a spritely start to his time in white.

Yet, more is required and it's required quickly. The window is eight days away from closing and Daniel Levy needs to find that Eze alternative.

Well, a move for Manchester City star Savinho is still on the cards according to reports in Spain.

The Brazilian has been the subject of interest from the north Londoners for a few weeks now but it's touch and go to know whether City will sanction a sale.

In a bid to do so, Spurs are now prepared to put a club-record £73m on the table to bring the Citizen to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Previously, they had only been willing to put a fraction below £50m forward, but amid the Eze blow, Levy and Co know they must act.

Savinho: Tottenham's answer to Lamine Yamal

Signing someone of Savinho's quality in the remaining week of the window is a must for Spurs if they are to realise their lofty ambitions this term. They have started with consecutive wins and look good value, having not conceded yet.

Still, extra firepower is required and they'd surely find that in the form of the Man City star. While he's not so prolific as far as goalscoring is concerned just yet, only bagging three times in 2024/25, he's one of the best creators in English football, registering 13 assists in all competitions.

Amid those injuries to Kulusevski and Maddison, he could be just the creative hub that Frank is seeking.

Comparisons to Ballon d'Or contender, Lamine Yamal, will also raise excitement levels. Speaking after a dazzling display from the Brazilian last term, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson said: "His decision making is unbelievable. He remins me a bit like Yamal. They can dribble, they dribble at the right time, they pass at the right time. He's going to be a superstar."

While taking anything Merson says must be done so with a pinch of salt, there is logic here. Indeed, according to data-led website, FBref, Yamal was the most similar winger in European football to Savinho last term, based on statistics.

Of course, Yamal is a generational talent, but it's of great intrigue to see where they are most comparable.

From a goalscoring perspective, plenty of wingers in European football are streets ahead of Savinho but we can see here that he's one of the most creative around.

Over the league season, he registered the same number of assists per 90 minutes as the great Yamal while he also made more key passes.

The Spanish wonderkid was far ahead for progressive passes but in other aspects, notably progressive carrying and shot-creating actions, there isn't a great deal to seperate the duo.

A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent's goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.

Based on a number of things, the 21-year-old is still incredibly raw but as Merson said, he looks as though he's on his way to becoming a superstar. He's not going to reach Yamal's overall quality but having someone with those traits in your squad will help a great deal.

Spurs do need more goals but creativity is also on their shopping list. They'd get that and then some if they signed City's Brazilian star.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a new bid worth £43m to sign an attacking midfielder similar to former target Eberechi Eze.

Tottenham move on from Eze with 2-0 win at Man City

Spurs were dealt a major transfer blow last week when Eze decided to snub a move to Thomas Frank's side in favour of heading to north London rivals Arsenal.

Eze actually phoned Gunners boss Mikel Arteta in order to return to his boyhood side, with Tottenham being forced to look at other attacking targets before the deadline.

However, on the pitch, Spurs put their Eze transfer blow behind them to seal an impressive 2-0 at Manchester City. First-half goals from Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha were enough for Frank’s side to make it two wins from two without conceding a goal.

Talking after the game, Frank was only interested in talking about those that had joined Tottenham.

“I think it’s fair to say that we’ve got a few questions about the transfer market yesterday – a lot about why not, and what if, and all that. What is 100 per cent sure is that we brought two top players into the club, (Mohammed) Kudus and Palhinha. Both of them performed very well, which I’m very pleased with.

“And Palhinha, wow. You know, sometimes players need confidence, and they need to be on top. “I actually don’t think he’s fully fit yet where I want him to be, but very pleased with his performance and he’s definitely helping the team.”

Asked if he had used the Eze situation as inspiration, Frank said: “I think that’s very, very easy – never ever use one word about anything that is not in our club.”

With Spurs not back in action until Saturday 30 August, Daniel Levy and co have plenty of time to make progress with a number of alternative targets, and it looks as if they are getting straight to work with one attacking midfielder.

Tottenham make improved Nico Paz offer

According to Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Tottenham have made an improved offer for Como’s Nico Paz.

Spurs had an initial €40m (£34.6m) bid turned down, with those in north London now raising their offer to €50m (£43m). Como or Paz are yet to respond to Tottenham’s latest bid, with the Serie A side previously valuing the 20-year-old at €70m (£60m).

Di Marzio adds that Paz remains a top target for Tottenham, with talks continuing. Should the Argentina international sign for Frank’s side, they will be getting a talent called “incredible” by Lionel Messi.

Glasgow Rangers are still looking for their first win of the Scottish Premiership season after they were held to a 1-1 draw by St Mirren away from Ibrox on Sunday.

The Light Blues needed academy graduate Findlay Curtis to come off the bench to score an excellent goal to rescue a point for the side late in the second half.

Russell Martin's team looked bereft of quality at the top end of the pitch until Curtis and James Tavernier, who supplied the corner that led to the goal, came on as substitutes.

If the head coach wants to bring the captain back into the starting XI, in the Champions League or against Celtic next weekend, Max Aarons may need to drop out.

Why Max Aarons should be dropped

The Bournemouth loanee is not a horrendous player and he did not put in a terrible performance against St Mirren on Sunday, but he does not offer the same level of attacking threat that Tavernier does.

Aarons has only created one chance in three starts in the Premiership for Rangers, per Sofascore, and did not create any chances in 69 minutes on the pitch in this match.

The English full-back has not offered enough going forward, whilst Tavernier has only started one of the three games and created three chances for the team, per Sofascore.

This is why Aarons should be dropped from the XI to add more creativity to the side, but the defender is not the only player who should be ruthlessly dropped, as Lyall Cameron's position should also be under threat.

Why Lyall Cameron should be dropped

Martin must ruthlessly ditch the Scottish central midfielder alongside Aarons after the former Dundee man put in a disappointing display against St Mirren.

The manager knows that he will get a hard-working, tireless, performance from Cameron, who runs his socks off, but the quality in and out of possession was not there for him on Sunday.

He missed a very presentable opportunity to open the scoring when Jayden Meghoma whipped a brilliant ball into the box, although it was maybe at a bit of an awkward height.

Aside from that miss, though, the 22-year-old central midfielder's all-round performance was not good enough to justify him keeping his place in the team against Celtic next weekend, looking beyond the second leg against Club Brugge.

As you can see in the table above, Cameron failed to deal with the intensity and the physicality of the clash with St Mirren, as he lost 100% of his duels.

The opposition found it far too easy to get the better of him in one-on-one situations, and he did not make up for his lack of physicality with quality or creativity on the ball in the final third.

Mohamed Diomande won more duels (one) and made more tackles and interceptions (two) in just 26 minutes off the bench for the Light Blues, which suggests that he may have more to offer to the team out of possession as a physical presence.

Rangers may need physicality to deal with Celtic next weekend at Ibrox, as they look to close the already-growing gap to their rivals, which is why Cameron should be ruthlessly ditched from the XI alongside Aarons.

After taking the reins at Tottenham Hotspur, new boss Thomas Frank has already demonstrated his ability to switch his tactics based upon the opposition from game to game.

He’s already operated with a back five and a back four in various games, undoubtedly evaluating the options at his disposal for his debut campaign at the helm in North London.

However, a glaring issue has arisen in the side, with a lack of depth in the final third potentially transforming into a huge problem should no solution be found before the end of the window.

If the Dane is to be successful in the Premier League, he will need various talents at his disposal to call upon, but at present, he’s severely lacking in options in attacking areas.

After the departure of Heung-min Son and injury to James Maddison, the number ten and left-wing positions are massively depleted - with owner Daniel Levy needing to rectify such issues as soon as possible.

Spurs’ attempts to land an Eze alternative this summer

Eberechi Eze appeared to be the player to fill such roles within the Spurs side, after the hierarchy agreed a deal with Crystal Palace for the Englishman’s signature.

The player himself wanted to join Frank’s side, but despite the progress made on a deal to land the 27-year-old - he will not be making a move to join the Lilywhites this summer.

He’s since accepted an offer to join North London rivals Arsenal, subsequently ending Levy’s pursuit of the attacking midfielder - which has seen the club move onto different targets.

Some of the options have previously been on their radar at previous points of the summer window, with Manchester City star Savinho just one name remerging in their sights.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed in recent days that Frank’s side will return to negotiations before the end of the window, after previously failing to strike an agreement with Pep Guardiola’s men.

He also claimed that an offer of €70m (£60m) was being prepared for the Brazilian forward, who managed to notch 14 combined goals and assists in the 2024/25 campaign.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s answer to Saka

Bukayo Saka is a player who’s constantly tormented countless backlines in the Premier League over recent seasons - with Tottenham being one of the sides unable to contain the Arsenal winger.

The 23-year-old has scored five times against the Lilywhites in his career - the most of any side he’s faced - often claiming bragging rights for Mikel Arteta’s side in the North London derby.

Such performances have undoubtedly left the Spurs faithful wishing they had a player of his quality, but talents like the Englishman would cost a pretty penny in the modern market.

To make matters worse for the Lilywhites faithful, Saka will be aided in his attempts at the Emirates by Eze - rubbing further salt into the wounds after missing out on his signature.

However, their pain may be short-lived, especially if they can land a deal for Savinho, with the City star able to make the fans forget about the failed move for the 27-year-old.

The Brazilian has been labelled as a similar player to Saka by FBref, a comparison that is understandable when delving into his underlying stats from the previous campaign.

The 21-year-old managed to outperform the Gunners star in numerous key areas, subsequently handing Frank his own version of the top-level attacker.

Savinho, who’s been labelled “incredible” by current boss Guardiola, posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate - able to cut inside off the right-hand side trouble the ‘keeper on a more consistent basis.

His ability to get shots off around the 18-yard box is undoubtedly crucial, but the need for a creative presence within the current first-team squad has been evident of late.

The Brazilian could provide just that with any move to North London, bettering Saka in various areas - such as passes completed and passes into the opposition area per 90.

However, Savinho has also caused havoc to the opposition with his talent at driving the opposition - registering more carries into the penalty area per 90, whilst also achieving a higher take-on success rate.

Missing out on Eze will certainly be a bitter blow, but any disappointment could be pushed aside if the hierarchy manage to get a deal over the line for the City youngster.

If he does make the move, the 21-year-old would have all the tools to match Saka’s achievements in the capital, undoubtedly offering the needed threat Frank has been hunting for throughout the off-season.

After missing out on Eberechi Eze in the most frustrating way possible, Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly held talks to sign a Champions League-winning alternative for Thomas Frank.

Frank issues "key message" after Eze snub

Earlier this summer, it looked as though Morgan Gibbs-White was destined to become a Tottenham player after they triggered an unexpected release clause, only for Nottingham Forest to step in and keep hold of their star man. As a result, the Lilywhites shifted their focus towards Crystal Palace's Eze, seemingly jumping ahead of Arsenal.

Alas, just when they were nearing an agreement, Spurs missed out on their second big target of the summer and this time in the most frustrating fashion as Arsenal swooped in.

Losing out on Gibbs-White was a blow, but losing out on Eze to their North London rivals after doing everything to secure his signature would have handed Spurs fans a sickening feeling. Frank, however, has chosen to remain positive and reiterated his stance that he only wants to sign players who want to play for his side.

"There's been a lot of links and will continue to be. To be very general, I don't want any players who don't want to come to the club. If they don't want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don't want them here.

"That's very clear, and I imagine the fans feel exactly the same. That's a key message."

Frustrated or not, Daniel Levy and Spurs must simply go again in the transfer market. Following James Maddison's lengthy injury, the Lilywhites undeniably need a No.10 to fill the England international's role, and now that Eze is off the table, they must seek alternatives.

To that end, names such as Como's Nico Paz have already been mentioned, as well as a Champions League winner who could yet arrive from PSG.

Tottenham hold talks to sign Kang-in Lee

As reported by Football Transfers, Tottenham have held talks to sign Kang-in Lee from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth around €50m (£43m) this month.

The South Korean winger recently showed Tottenham fans exactly what they would be getting after scoring an impressive effort to get PSG back in the game before they overcame Frank's side on penalties to win the Super Cup.

What's more, Lee has already earned the approval of countryman and former Tottenham captain Heung-min Son, who told reporters in 2023: “Kang-in Lee’s talent is incredible. I believe he could grow even further. We have to help him not to get too much pressure.”

Given that the winger is likely to lose out to the likes of Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for a starting place at PSG, Tottenham could have the perfect opportunity to come swooping in and offer him a main role late on in the transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed huge success in the transfer window over recent seasons, with their work massively contributing to their Europa League triumph last campaign.

Brennan Johnson scored the winner in the final against Manchester United back in May, topping off what was a fine individual season for the Welsh international.

He netted 18 goals in his 51 appearances for the Lilywhites throughout 2024/25, with his £47.5m transfer from Nottingham Forest now somewhat of a bargain given his success in the side.

However, whilst boss Thomas Frank has already completed multiple shrewd pieces of business by landing Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Mathys Tel - the new boss undoubtedly wants further additions to bolster his squad.

Numerous players have been touted with moves to North London throughout the ongoing transfer window, but one saga has been a huge talking point in recent days.

Spurs’ failed saga to land Eberechi Eze this summer

Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has been a huge target for Spurs over the last couple of months, with constant talks being held between the two sides over a £60m transfer.

At one stage, it appeared as though a deal would be completed without any fuss, even leading to the player himself being keen on a move to join Frank’s side for the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

However, after talks which lasted around a fortnight, no deal was completed - subsequently handing North London rivals Arsenal an open-goal opportunity to land the 27-year-old’s signature.

Mikel Arteta’s men gratefully accepted, strolling into negotiations, and reaching a total agreement with the player and the Eagles - leading to a £60m up-front transfer fee being accepted.

It’s been reported by numerous sources that Eze is expected to complete his medical and be announced as an Arsenal player in the coming days - rubbing salt into the wounds of all associated with the Lilywhites.

Other targets will now have to be drawn up to avoid a complete disaster this summer, but the club do already have a hugely talented player on the books - one who’s valued more than Eze at present.

The Spurs player who’s worth more than Eze

As previously mentioned, Spurs have conducted some excellent business over the last few seasons - with not all of the work completed by the hierarchy negative in recent times.

Alongside Johnson, talents such as Pape Sarr have also showcased that they’ve been worthwhile investments, massively exceeding the expectations placed upon him after his move to North London.

The Senegalese star joined the Lilywhites from French side Metz back in the summer of 2022 after spending an additional year on loan at the side he started his professional career with.

However, in the last couple of years, he’s become an influential part of the first-team, racking up over 100 appearances for the Lilywhites - scoring nine times, including in the season opener against Burnley.

He’s not the only first-team member who’s endured somewhat of a rise in recent months, with Archie Gray another player on the books who possesses a whole heap of potential.

Eyebrows were raised last summer when owner Daniel Levy forked out £40m for the 19-year-old’s signature - especially after he had just ended his only previous year as a professional with Leeds United the season prior.

Given his tender age, he found consistent minutes hard to come by, racking up 46 appearances across all competitions - many of which were in unfamiliar roles such as right-back and central defence.

However, Gray, who's been labelled "unbelievable" by teammate Kevin Danso, was rewarded with a start in his natural central midfield position against Burnley last week, highlighting the trust new boss Frank has in the youngster.

Whilst he’s been limited as to how much he can showcase his talents in recent months, he’s still seen his market value soar since his arrival, now being valued at £61.5m by FootballTransfers.

Such a figure is higher than that of Eze, with the Palace star expected to cost £60m before his subsequent transfer to join Frank’s side fell apart in recent days.

It’s easy for the fanbase to lose faith in the ownership, understandably so, given the recent failure to land new talent and back the new manager.

However, it’s evident that the deals they have completed in recent years have been a success, with faith needed to put in the owner to find another top talent before the window slams shut.

Tottenham are working to sign an alternative to Eberechi Eze after their deal with Crystal Palace fell apart by the seams.

Despite agreeing both personal terms with the 27-year-old and the finances of a deal with Palace, Arsenal swooped in at the last moment to agree a deal of their own for Eze, and once left with the choice, the boyhood Gunners supporter was always going to pick N5.

It comes as Tottenham's second public transfer mishap of the window, after also seeing an advanced deal for Morgan Gibbs-White blocked by Nottingham Forest in bizarre fashion earlier this summer.

For Thomas Frank, who's now bereft of any playmaker at all following James Maddison's long-term ACL injury and Dejan Kulusevski's absence, it is a hammer blow and one that needs rectifying as soon as possible.

That being said, in response to all the reports surrounding Eze's rejection, Frank has made it crystal clear that he only wants players with a burning desire to wear the Tottenham shirt.

"There's been a lot of rumours - and a lot of times where there's nothing in it. There must be someone out there who thinks it's good fun to put the rumours out there," said Frank in a press conference before their trip to Man City.

"There's been a lot of links and will continue to be. To be very general, I don't want any players who don't want to come to the club. If they don't want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don't want them here. That's very clear, and I imagine the fans feel exactly the same.

"That's a key message."

Of the alternatives mentioned by media sources, a few have emerged in the past 48 hours.

Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Leicester City's Bilal El Khannouss are just some of the names linked with moves to N17 after Eze's move elsewhere, with Como sensation Nico Paz apparently still in their thinking as well.

The latter was reportedly subject to a rejected Tottenham bid earlier in the window, according to Sky Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio, with Como holding out for around £60 million to even consider a sale.

The Argentine's future is also tied heavily with his former club, Real Madrid, who possess a hefty 50 per cent sell-on clause and the option of bringing him back to the Bernabeu for a reduced fee in both 2026 and 2027.

Tottenham hold talks with Nico Paz's representatives after Eberechi Eze blow

According to TBR Football, amid other reports that Tottenham are preparing a fresh attempt for Paz, it is believed that Spurs have also held talks with the 20-year-old's representatives in the aftermath of their Eze blow.

Paz bagged six goals and nine assists under Cesc Fàbregas last season as one of Como's standout performers, with the ex-Madrid man shining among Serie A's latest rising stars.

However, journalist Graeme Bailey also told TBR that a move for Paz carries plenty of risk, even if Spurs have explored it through intermediaries with the player.

“The problem for any club wanting Paz is that Real currently have a buy-back clause of around €10 million (£8.6m). If they allowed him to leave Como, they would insist on a similar arrangement with that new club," said Bailey.

“So, in theory, if he performed well at Spurs, they would lose him for virtually nothing at the end of the deal.

“As it stands, Spurs would not do that.”

Tottenham Hotspur made it two Premier League wins from two under Thomas Frank this afternoon, with a tremendous victory over Manchester City at the Etihad.

The Lilywhites claimed a superb 2-0 win away from home, making it five goals scored and back-to-back clean sheets during the early stages of the Dane’s tenure.

Such a performance repeated the feat from the 2024/25 campaign, winning against Pep Guardiola’s side away from home for the second successive season.

The result is one thing, but Frank will be delighted with his players - evidently executed the game plan perfectly with their counter-attacking and pressing play forcing the Citizens into various mistakes.

Numerous players stood out during the triumph, with the new boss seemingly making an immediate impact in the role and finding a settled side in North London.

How Spurs’ 2-0 win over Man City unfolded

Brennan Johnson opened the scoring for Spurs at the Etihad, making it two goals in as many Premier League outings after finding the net against Burnley seven days ago.

The goal epitomised the direct nature of the Lilywhites against Guardiola’s men, with a ball down the channel leading to a squared pass across the box - before the Welshman put Frank’s men ahead.

Such a goal was originally flagged as offside, but after a VAR check, the visitors burst into a one-goal lead in the 35th minute - just as the side did at the Etihad last season.

However, there was no doubt about the second effort, with Pape Sarr closing down an under-hit pass from James Trafford - forcing the opposition into a mistake, before Joao Palhinha pounced on the loose ball to fire the side into a two-goal lead.

The Portuguese international was making his first league start for the Lilywhites and has certainly staked his claim for a regular place in the side after such a showing.

He’s not alone in that department though, with one other starter deserving of an extended run in the starting eleven after his own performance against the Citizens.

The 9/10 Spurs star who now looks undroppable

It may be early days in the new manager’s spell at Spurs, but he’s already demonstrated he’s able to get the best out of the current crop of players - as seen by the 100% win record in England’s top-flight.

The Dane’s men restricted the hosts to minimal chances in dangerous areas, something that’s no mean feat - after they scored four times at Wolves on the opening day.

Defensively, the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven managed to impress, preventing the potent Erling Haaland from pulling off a single effort on target.

However, the solidity at the back allowed for turnovers and counter-attacks to be created, which saw Richarlison impress once more at the top end of the pitch.

The Brazilian started in the number nine role, but ran the opposition ragged, often running the channels - which saw him register the assist for Johnson’s opener.

Along with his assist, his underlying stats also highlight the quality he provided, despite being unable to add to his two-goal haul from last weekend.

He made just 29 touches during his 78-minute outing, but many of which were as a result of the Brazilian providing the out ball to play off in their direct play.

The 28-year-old also registered three efforts on goal, notching eight touches in the opposition box - the most of any player on the pitch between both teams.

Richarlison’s excellent showing saw him also win two fouls, whilst coming out on top in six of the duels he entered - topping off his workmanlike performance at the Etihad.

As a result of his showing, he was handed a 9/10 match rating by Football Insider’s Ben Palmer - putting the icing on the cake on what was a superb outing for the former Everton star.

After such a performance, Frank simply can’t drop the Brazilian, with his arrival evidently handing the forward a new lease of life in his own career in North London.

If he can continue his impressive start to 2025/26, he can certainly nail down the number nine position as his own - potentially playing a huge part in any success this campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for three late-summer signings after missing out on Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, but time is quickly running out for chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites recruitment team.

Spurs were forced to return to their transfer drawing board for a new playmaker yet again earlier this week, after their north London rivals hijacked a once-advanced deal for Eze.

The 27-year-old agreed personal terms to join Thomas Frank's side, with the finances of a deal also struck with Palace, so it appeared only a matter of time before they welcomed the player to N17.

However, Kai Havertz's injury prompted Arsenal to mount a sensational late move for their ex-academy gem after weeks of groundwork, despite initially hesitating, and once the Gunners came in, Eze's choice was crystal clear.

"Arsenal made a June approach, as revealed, and a key July meeting took place between Eze, Arteta and Berta," wrote journalist Ben Jacobs on X, who explained exactly how the deal happened.

"Eze always wanted Arsenal, but Nwaneri's new deal stopped a bid in early August. Spurs moved after missing out on Gibbs-White and Maddison's ACL. They had backed off earlier in the window prioritising adding the Forest attacker.

"Levy couldn't close the deal before the Premier League season started and this, in hindsight, proved costly. But Spurs didn't think Arsenal would bid last week, so took their time.

"Spurs reached a full agreement with Palace and Eze 48 hours ago, but Havertz's injury meant Arsenal were suddenly in the race.

"Arsenal able to agree a fee quickly on Wednesday with Berta and Tim Lewis involved. £60m plus add-ons, same ballpark as Spurs had in place. Eze would have joined Spurs had Arsenal not bid, but as soon as they did, he was always going to pick #AFC due to an emotional connection with the club."

It marks one of the stories of the transfer window, but for Tottenham, it is nothing but frustration.

Since the Eze humiliation, Spurs have been linked with a host of alternatives - including Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, Como's Nico Paz, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Bournemouth midfielder (and boyhood Lilywhites supporter) Alex Scott, RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons, Southampton sensation Tyler Dibling and Leicester City's Bilal El Khannouss.

However, the likes of El Khannouss, Dibling and Simons are already in talks over moves to different clubs, so if they're serious, Tottenham may need to pull off a late hijack of their own.

Tottenham eyeing late moves for number 10, winger and centre-back

To make matters more complicated, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, Tottenham have other items on the agenda away from their search for a playmaker.

It is believed that Spurs are eyeing late signings of a number 10, winger and a centre-back before the deadline on September 1, so Levy has plenty to do, and with very little time to do it.

"Tottenham Hotspur moved on from Eberechi Eze once it became clear he wanted to join Arsenal and they are now focusing on other targets," said Bridge.

"Spurs want to sign a No 10, a winger and a centre back ahead of the deadline.

"Several recent reports have linked Spurs with Tyler Dibling, but this is long-standing interest. There is interest in Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche.

"It could be a very busy final few weeks at Spurs and clubs are aware they are prepared to pay £60m on the desired player after missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eze for similar fees.

"Spurs feel they couldn't have done any more on both failed deals."

It has been a long time since the mood around Arsenal has been so jubilant.

Amazingly, it was the complete opposite just a couple of days ago, with fans having to deal with fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur closing in on Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz suffering another potentially significant injury.

Fortunately, everything changed on Wednesday evening when reports broke of the club going back in and hijacking the move for the Crystal Palace star.

With a 'here we go' from Fabrizio Romano and news of him completing his medical yesterday, the Gunners have finally got their hands on the potentially game-changing number ten they've needed for so long.

Yet, if Arsenal want to really get the most out of Eze and help him reach or surpass the numbers Liverpool's new ten, Florian Wirtz, put up last season, they should be going in for another international they've been linked with this summer.

Why Arsenal signed Eze

One of the primary reasons Arsenal decided to splash the cash on Eze this summer is undoubtedly his output of the last few years.

For example, across the 23/24 and 24/25 seasons, the 27-year-old "magician," as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, was able to score 25 goals and provide 17 assists in 79 appearances, totalling 5588 minutes.

In other words, the former QPR gem maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games, or every 133.04 minutes for a mid-table side.

The second significant reason the North Londoners went all out for the Greenwich-born superstar is the fact that he can play as a ten and out on the left.

These were two of the most significant problem areas for the team last season, as Martin Odegaard was miles off his creative best and neither Gabriel Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard were able to offer enough threat out wide.

Finally, while it will take some time for the 5 foot 10 dynamo to familiarise himself with Arsenal's style of player and Arteta's tactical ideas, he's Premier League-proven.

Therefore, it shouldn't take anywhere near as long as some of the Gunners' other signings to get up to speed.

However, while Eze looks like he could be a game-changing addition to the North Londoners' squad, they could potentially get even more out of him and help him hit the numbers of Wirtz last season by signing another international star they've been linked with: Ademola Lookman.

Why Lookman can help Eze hit Wirtz numbers

Given their attacking problems last season, it's hardly been a surprise to see the sheer number of offensive players Arsenal have been linked with this summer.

One of the most exciting and intriguing of those has been Lookman, who could be available for around £43m after his move to Inter Milan fell through, and he could help Eze hit the incredible numbers Wirtz did last season: 31 goal involvements in 45 games.

The first reason we think this is that the Nigerian international is a lean, mean output machine.

Since moving to the Serie A side in August 2022, the "world-class" attacker, as dubbed by the BBC's John Bennett, has scored a brilliant 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 appearances, totalling 7538 minutes.

That means the 5 foot 9 monster has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes on the continent.

Just imagine the sort of numbers the former Everton man would put up in this Arsenal side, and then the goals and assists the Palace ace could chalk up playing alongside him.

Moreover, there would be plenty of opportunities for the two to play together, as even though the Wandsworth-born game-changer spent much of last season up top, he is just as comfortable playing on either wing, as a second striker, or even in midfield.

This ability to cover practically every area of the attack also means that he could cover for the FA Cup winner when needed, ensuring he isn't overplayed and is always near his best.

Ultimately, Eze is an excellent signing in his own right, but were Arsenal to also bring in Lookman this summer, he could help the Englishman hit the sort of numbers Wirtz did for Bayer Leverkusen last year.