Daily Express

Tottenham have been steadily going about their business this summer, but with less than a month of the window remaining they may now want to kick things up a notch. A serious-looking pre-season injury for James Maddison has shaken things up and it now seems likely that they will go after another attacking midfielder to compensate.

Thomas Frank and his recruitment team may also move for an experienced centre-back after the injury woes his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, went through last season. With further incomings and outgoings likely, Express Sport takes you through how we would manage the Tottenham squad for the season ahead...

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Goalkeeper and defence

In Guglielmo Vicario and Antonin Kinsky, Frank already has two capable options between the sticks, and he is also well-stocked at full-back. There was rampant speculation surrounding Cristian Romero's future at the start of the window but it now looks like he will stay and continue his centre-back partnership with Micky van de Ven.

Spurs have signed young defender Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale and welcomed teenager Luka Vuskovic this summer, but they could do with another senior option, particularly given the amount of football Romero and Van de Ven missed last season, and the fact Radu Dragusin is still working his way back from a long-term injury.

Koni De Winter is a name that's been linked with Tottenham throughout the window. The Genoa star is only 23 but he's already a full Belgian international with two-and-a-half seasons of Serie A experience under his belt. Other clubs are also following De Winter, who is thought to be available for around £25million.

Midfield

The arrival of Joao Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich with an option to buy has dramatically beefed up Frank's deep-lying midfield options. Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr will also compete for minutes, along with Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. Rodrigo Bentancur is also in the equation. The Uruguayan is into the last year of his contract but Frank has talked him up as a key player, which may serve as a call to action for the club's hierarchy to begin talks over an extension.

Options in the No.10 position will need to be tweaked following Maddison's injury. Dejan Kulusevski would step in under normal circumstances but he had knee surgery in May and will not be fit for this weekend's Premier League curtain-raiser as things stand.

New signing Mohammed Kudus can operate behind the striker, but a real statement of intent would be to try and hijack Arsenal's move for Eberechi Eze. Spurs have a long-standing interest in the Crystal Palace playmaker, and nipping in ahead of their local rivals would make a bombshell signing even more satisfying.

Attack

Dominic Solanke is set to start the season as Frank's first-choice striker after netting 16 times across all competitions last term. Mathys Tel will provide back-up while also being able to play out wide, and Kudus can also play up top.

Son Heung-min is heading to LAFC and leaving a gaping hole in the squad but Tottenham may feel they already have enough cover as Kudus, Tel, Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and, if they sign him, Eze can all play on the flanks. Frank also appears to have taken a liking to Wilson Odobert during pre-season. The only thing that could jolt Spurs into life is the departure of Richarlison, who would likely fetch a decent sum in the market.

Rodrygo is demanding a whopping £350k-a-week to make the switch from Real Madrid to the Premier League. Manchester City were quoted this figure when they expressed interest in the player, who is highly regarded by their manager, Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal, who have shown strong interest in Real's Brazilian winger, can expect a similar wage demand, as can Liverpool, another club linked with the player. This hefty wage demand will likely deter Tottenham, another interested party.

Real Madrid are also asking for a £76 million transfer fee for 24-year-old Rodrygo, who is on Bayern Munich's radar as well. Manchester City are hesitant to meet Rodrygo's wage demands, which are akin to what Kevin De Bruyne was earning before his move to Napoli this summer.

As a result, they've put their interest on hold while keeping an eye on the situation. It seems Rodrygo may need to lower his wage expectations if he wants to secure a move away from the Bernabeu.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly set their sights on Argentinian prodigy Nico Paz, but they may need to fork out a hefty £60million to secure his services. Paz joined Serie A side Como from Real Madrid last summer and quickly caught the eye under the guidance of manager Cesc Fabregas.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder scored six goals and set up nine more in 35 league appearances, playing a key role in helping the newly promoted side secure a respectable 10th-place finish. Spurs were already in the market for a new playmaker even before James Maddison's unfortunate ACL injury, which will sideline him for the majority of the upcoming season. However, securing Paz's signature will likely require Spurs to pay significantly more than his current release clause.

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Como are reportedly holding out for a fee in the region of £60m for Paz. This would represent a staggering profit on the £5.2 million they paid for him just last summer.

Italian media had previously suggested that Como had rejected a £35m offer from Spurs. However, the Athletic has reported that the club deny making an offer, while Como do not want to sell their prize asset.

Another hurdle for Spurs is Real Madrid, who retained a buy-back clause in Paz's contract when he left for Italy. Xabi Alonso's team opted not to trigger their £6.9m (€8m) clause this summer, but the price will rise to £7.8m (€9m) next summer and further increase to £8.6m (€10m) in 2027.

Spurs' pursuit of Nico Paz could be further complicated by Real Madrid's reported 50 per cent sell-on clause and their right to match any offers for the former academy star, potentially thwarting Tottenham's summer transfer plans.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is eager to bolster his attacking options following Son Heung-min's departure to LAFC, James Maddison's injury woes, and Dejan Kulusevski's stint on the sidelines. Spurs have been scouring the market for a creative No.10, having missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest.

Despite being early in his professional career, Paz has already earned high praise from Lionel Messi. On his international debut, Paz set up Messi for a goal in Argentina's 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia.

"Nico Paz has an incredible mindset, and that's why he's where he is," Messi said. "Nico has a lot of quality and understands the game perfectly. He has an incredible mindset, and he's with Cesc Fabregas as coach, who is my friend and will help him grow a lot."

Spurs are prioritising signing an attacking midfielder and another centre-back. The North London club have already secured Mohammed Kudus from West Ham and finalised a loan deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer. Additionally, former loanees Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso have joined Spurs permanently.

The team concluded their pre-season with a 4-0 defeat by Bayern Munich, which was not the ideal preparation for their UEFA Super Cup clash against PSG on Wednesday. Frank conceded that in light of Son's departure to LAFC, the club is open to the idea of recruiting a new forward.

"Sonny was a key player for 10 seasons. He has left the club. We have both good young players in Mathys [Tel] and Wilson [Odobert] and they are really promising and can perform," Frank said. "Brennan [Johnson] can also play that side. As I said, we are in the market. If we think we can find the right one, one who can improve the team, then he will be signed. If we can't, then not."

Tottenham's worst fears have been realised - James Maddison is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a devastating ACL injury that will keep him out for more than six months. The 28-year-old was stretchered off during Spurs' pre-season draw with Newcastle in South Korea last weekend after aggravating the same knee injury that kept him out of the Europa League final in May.

The timing couldn't be worse. With the start of the Premier League season fast approaching and a long-awaited return to Champions League football on the horizon - a stage Maddison was set to grace for the first time - the injury has left new manager Thomas Frank and the Spurs hierarchy scrambling for solutions. Maddison's absence doesn't just rob Tottenham of their creative heartbeat, but it also reshapes the club's entire attacking strategy. Now, with precious weeks remaining in the window, reinforcements are likely to be explored and very possibly pursued. Here, Express Football looks at the most plausible options to fill the void.

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Eberechi Eze

Eberechi Eze has been in Tottenham's crosshairs for some time, and Maddison's injury could finally push them to act. The Crystal Palace midfielder's flair, versatility and goal threat make him an ideal candidate to step into Maddison's role - especially after a standout season in which he registered 14 goals and 11 assists, including the winner in the FA Cup final.

Palace remain firm on Eze's £68million release clause, but Spurs may be willing to meet the price given the growing urgency. With Heung-min Son also departing for LAFC earlier this week, the attacking void in Frank's squad is significant - and Eze has the tools to help fill it.

His unique blend of physical power and technical finesse, coupled with proven Premier League experience, makes him a highly attractive target. But Tottenham may not have a clear path to his signature, with Arsenal also reportedly weighing up a move.

Jacob Ramsey

Jacob Ramsey's dynamic box-to-box energy offers Tottenhham a different flavour of attacking midfielder. The 24-year-old's work rate and ability to carry the ball forward could complement Spurs' setup, but his lack of goals - scoring just once in the Premier League last season - might raise concerns about his end product.

Aston Villa have reportedly slapped a £40m price tag on Ramsey, but with their financial situation under pressure, that figure could soften as the window progresses. Tottenham have been monitoring him for a while, drawn not just to his creative impact but also his defensive contributions and tactical versatility.

While he may not match Maddison's flair or final-third input, his youth, homegrown status and all-action style could make him a shrewd investment for a club looking to build for the future while addressing immediate needs.

Harvey Elliott

Harvey Elliott was once seen as the future of Liverpool's midfield, but his trajectory has stalled. After making just two Premier League starts under Arne Slot last season, his long-term prospects at Anfield look dead in the water.

While RB Leipzig have been linked with a move, Tottenham could seize the opportunity to offer Elliott a domestic lifeline - and a clear path to regular first-team football. At 22, Elliott still has significant room to develop, and his versatility, creativity, and European experience make him an enticing prospect.

Liverpool, however, are reluctant to let him go easily. They've reportedly set a £40m asking price with a buy-back clause, rising to £50m without one. Despite the fee, Spurs may view Elliott as a gamble worth taking. His technical ability, relentless work rate, and tactical flexibility - traits that earned him regular minutes under Jurgen Klopp - could make him a valuable addition both now and in the long term.

Jack Grealish

Jack Grealish's stint at Manchester City may have fallen short of expectations, but on his day, the 29-year-old still possesses match-winning quality. Currently in talks with Everton, Grealish could yet be tempted by a move to Tottenham - especially with Champions League football on offer. Spurs, long-time admirers of the England international, may now see an opening to finally get their man.

While critics argue his best days are behind him, Grealish still brings proven Premier League experience and creative flair in abundance. His dribbling, vision, and ability to dictate tempo - hallmarks of his Villa peak - could offer a different dimension to Spurs' attack. However, his high wages remain a potential stumbling block.

The reported £40m price tag may also seem steep for a player turning 30 next month, but a loan deal could present a more pragmatic solution, especially with Maddison's injury creating a short-term need. Grealish's knack for drawing fouls and slowing the pace could bring control during chaotic spells, complementing Frank's high-intensity setup. Still, after an underwhelming last couple of seasons at the Etihad, any move - whether long-term or short - would carry an element of risk.

James McAtee

James McAtee, 22, is one of Manchester City's most promising emerging talents, boasting the technical finesse and vision well-suited to a No. 10 role. Despite limited first-team opportunities at the Etihad, his quality is evident, and a permanent move could be on the cards if a club is willing to meet City's valuation, reportedly around £40m.

With Cole Palmer's breakthrough at Chelsea setting the precedent, Tottenham could present McAtee with a fast-tracked path to regular Premier League football. His ability to link play, thread passes, and unlock defences echoes aspects of Maddison's game, though he still lacks top-flight experience. That said, his loan spell at Sheffield United offered encouraging signs, showcasing his sharp passing, intelligent movement, and ability to control games.

For Spurs, McAtee represents an intriguing prospect: a high-upside, long-term investment with the potential to flourish under the right guidance. However, given their need for an immediate impact signing, the club may be inclined to prioritise more experienced, ready-made options.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Once seen as one of England's brightest midfield prospects, Carney Chukwuemeka has slipped under the radar at Chelsea. But at 21, his raw talent - marked by sharp dribbling, creative vision, and physical presence - remains undeniable. Injuries and limited minutes at Stamford Bridge make a £30m exit plausible, though Dortmund - who took him on loan last season - are also circling.

While his lack of top-flight experience presents a risk, Chukwuemeka's versatility and technical skillset may ease those concerns. He showed flashes of brilliance at Chelsea under former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, with explosive bursts and an ability to beat defenders that could bring a fresh, unpredictable edge to Tottenham's midfield.

Of all the candidates, Chukwuemeka comes with the most question marks but maintains a high ceiling. If Spurs can tap into his potential, he could prove to be a transformative signing rather than just a gamble.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that James Maddison will miss most of the 2025/26 season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season. The Spurs midfielder has been struck with the devastating news after tumbling to the ground in agony during Sunday's 1-1 draw against Newcastle United.

Maddison missed the end of last season, including Spurs' Europa League final triumph over Manchester United, with a knee injury. After appearing as a second-half substitute against Newcastle in Seoul, South Korea, the 28-year-old overextended the same knee and immediately signalled a problem.

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Maddison looked severely distressed before exiting the pitch on a stretcher. He was later spotted leaving the stadium on crutches, and Thomas Frank admitted it looked like a "bad injury".

The Spurs head coach said: "Sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal. That's what we got today.

"It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players [who gave Son a guard of honour].

"We're pretty sure it was the same knee he [Maddison] injured before."

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Maddison is set to undergo surgery that will keep him sidelined for the majority of the new campaign.

A Spurs statement read: "We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

"The 28-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during our pre-season friendly against Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul.

"His surgery will take place in the coming days and, following that, James will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team.

"Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur wishes James a full and speedy recovery. We will be supporting him every step of the way."

It's a heartbreaking development ahead of a major season of transition at Spurs under Frank, who will likely be on the hunt to replace such a key player.

Players will also be looking ahead to next summer when the 2026 World Cup takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Maddison's long-term injury layoff makes his inclusion in Thomas Tuchel's England squad now highly unlikely.

The former Leicester City playmaker had undergone a series of tests since returning from Asia on Monday.

Tottenham figures shared initial fears that Maddison had suffered cruciate ligament damage, and those worries have since come to fruition.

Alan Shearer has given his predictions for the upcoming Premier League season, suggesting that the status quo could remain at both ends of the table. Last season didn't offer much of a title race due to Liverpool's dominance and consistency from the get-go.

They have splashed out significant sums, including the British-record signing Florian Wirtz, in an attempt to secure back-to-back titles. Alexander Isak might still make a move to Anfield, and Shearer can't see past the Reds as champions.

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Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland have returned to the top flight. They'll be keen to break the worrying recent trend of promoted teams being relegated straight back to the Championship.

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However, Shearer has predicted that all three will only enjoy one year in the Premier League before returning to the second tier. This would mark the third consecutive year that the three promoted teams fail to survive, further emphasising the gap between the top flight and the Championship.

Arsenal are tipped to finish second for the fourth consecutive year - a prediction that won't please Mikel Arteta. He has invested heavily, bringing in Viktor Gyokeres as his No.9, but may still fall short of the prize he is so eager to win, with pressure mounting.

Manchester City had a quiet season last term and are starting a year without Kevin De Bruyne for the first time in a decade. Despite bolstering their squad, Shearer hasn't backed Pep Guardiola and his team to reclaim their crown, instead placing them in third.

Manchester United, who hit a new low last season, have bolstered their attacking line-up as Ruben Amorim seeks to turn their fortunes around. However, the pundit predicts an improved but not Champions League-worthy performance.

He believes that Chelsea and Newcastle - two clubs with contrasting summer experiences - will both finish above the Red Devils. Newcastle's fate may depend on whether Isak stays or if they can secure a top-tier replacement.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have had no trouble attracting attacking talent. Nottingham Forest, last year's dark horse, will now have to juggle domestic duties with Europa League commitments.

This is uncharted territory for them, but Shearer still backs them to finish in the top half of the table. Tottenham, having sacked Ange Postecoglou despite his European success, are entering a new era.

Thomas Frank faces a daunting task, but Shearer predicts an eighth-place finish for Spurs, just behind Aston Villa. The Midlands club has reaped the benefits of Unai Emery's leadership, but intense competition at the top could see them slip again.

Brentford, now under Keith Andrews' management, are tipped to narrowly escape relegation, finishing 17th. West Ham, despite Graham Potter's first full season at the helm, are also expected to face a challenging year.

For teams like Everton and Crystal Palace, another year of secure mid-table football is on the cards. The Eagles will be participating in European football, although not in their preferred competition.

Fulham, Wolves and Bournemouth are expected to remain relatively safe. Brighton, sitting at tenth, might have aspired for more under Fabian Hurzeler.

Shearer's forecasted Premier League table

*Predictions from Betfair.

Chelsea are set to use Tottenham the same way they have Arsenal over the years after their rivals were linked with one of their players. The Blues have again made a raft of signings this summer, and are still pursuing the likes of Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho.

Joao Felix is one player to have been sold to offset costs, while several others are currently training alone after being told they have no future at the club. Two outcasts have also travelled across London to the Emirates, with Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga both signing for Mikel Arteta. They follow the likes of Jorginho, Willian, and Petr Cech, who have also crossed the divide over the years.

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Now, Christopher Nkunku is in line to be sold to raise funds. He’s made 62 club appearances since his move from RB Leipzig two years ago, but most of them as a substitute after failing to impress Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca.

Injury problems have also contributed to his inconsistent form. Nkunku, 27, did appear in six of seven games as the club landed the Club World Cup this summer, but that seemingly hasn’t been enough to salvage his career at Stamford Bridge.

He signed for a £52million fee, although he is likely to be sold for around £20m. This time around, however, it’s Spurs, and not their North London rivals, who the Blues will use to ship off perceived dead wood.

Spurs are being linked with a move for the French forward. Despite the signings of Mathys Tel and Mihammed Kudus, Thomas Frank is said to be looking for more squad depth following James Maddison's long-term injury.

Nkunku isn’t one of the players currently training away from the first-team squad. However, the arrivals of Pedro, Liam Delap, and Jamie Gittens, with a deal for Simons also expected to be completed imminently, will only limit his gametime further.

He had previously been linked with a move to Manchester United. However, they instead focused their attention on signing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and have now submitted a bid for Benjamin Sesko, who was billed as Nkunku’s replacement when he signed for Leipzig.

Son Heung-min has ended his 10-year stay at Tottenham after making the "hardest decision ever" to leave for Los Angeles FC in a record Major League Soccer transfer.

It was revealed on Saturday that Son would depart Spurs following 173 goals in 454 appearances and months after he captained the club to Europa League glory.

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After an agreement between Tottenham and LAFC was struck for a deal in excess of £20million, the 33-year-old arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday and a day later he has finalised his transfer, which is the highest fee paid by an MLS club for a player.

In a post to Spurs fans on Instagram, Son, who has signed an initial two-year deal with LAFC with options for a further two, wrote: "How to find the right words for this? I don't know. I have been thinking for days. It's impossible. But here I go.

"It's time for me to say goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur. My home for the past decade. When I arrived in 2015, I didn't speak English, I didn't know London, but you welcomed me with open arms, believed in me, and stood by me through every high and low.

"I was just a boy from Korea with big dreams who was supposed to have no chance. And now, 10 years later, North London is in my heart forever.

"I've made friends for life here, had the honour of becoming a godfather here, and had the privilege of captaining our special club here. I've poured my heart and soul into this club, which makes this the hardest decision ever.

"I thought if I was ever going to leave, it would have to be on my terms, on the best terms, when our mission had been accomplished together. With pride and honour."

Son joined Spurs in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen. After a tough debut campaign the South Korea captain went on to become one of the club's best ever players and made himself a Premier League great in the process.

Alongside old partner in crime Harry Kane, Son holds the record for the most goal involvements by a duo in the Premier League, with the pair assisting each other on a record 47 occasions in the competition.

The Chuncheon-born attacker also won the league's Golden Boot award in the 2021-22 season after scoring 23 times and he sits 17th in the list of all-time scorers in the division with 127 goals.

Under former boss Mauricio Pochettino, Son's consistent displays helped turn Tottenham into genuine title contenders but silverware continued to allude them after a second-placed finish in 2017 was followed by a Champions League runner-up spot two years later.

Whilst various members of Pochettino's team left not long after the Argentinian's winter departure in 2019, Son stayed to work under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte before he was tasked with leading a new era by Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou named Son as his captain in the wake of Kane's high-profile switch to Bayern Munich and Hugo Lloris' departure from the first team and after a roller coaster two seasons under the Australian, they achieved the holy grail together on May 21.

Son was consigned to a place on the bench in Bilbao for the Europa League final against Manchester United following an injury-affected campaign, but was introduced to make his final competitive appearance for Spurs to help them win 1-0 and end a 17-year wait for silverware.

It etched Son's name into the history books as he became only the fourth captain in Spurs' history to lift a European trophy after Danny Blanchflower, Alan Mullery and Steve Perryman.

The popular South Korean will renew acquaintances with Lloris and move to Los Angeles, which boasts one of the largest Korean populations in the world, ahead of next summer's World Cup in the United States.

Jurgen Klopp previously proved how much of a fan he was of Rodrygo during his time at Liverpool. The Real Madrid winger – who is reportedly being touted as Son Heung-min's potential replacement at Tottenham Hotspur – was a highly-rated prospect whilst at Santos.

Determined to make the Brazilian a Red, the former Liverpool boss travelled to South America on an 11-hour flight to personally meet the then-16-year-old, according to forward's agent, Nick Arcuri. It was in 2020 when Arcuri claimed the Merseyside side were the first Premier League side to make an approach for Rodrygo with Klopp going the extra mile to seal the deal.

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Speaking on a live YouTube chat, Arcuri said: "When Rodrygo went to sign his first professional contract with Santos, aged 16, a Liverpool director called me saying that Klopp already knew the player, had seen the material, had already come to see Rodrygo personally.

"He had gone on YouTube, searched ‘talents from Brazil’, Rodrygo had appeared and he was very young. He came to Brazil, and liked him. They contacted me, the Liverpool director wanted him to be his first signing, Rodrygo. I went to England, sat in London, Liverpool have an office in London. I brought the proposal to Modesto [Roma Junior], then president of Santos.

"Modesto didn’t accept. It turned out that Santos didn’t want to sell Rodrygo and instead made the first professional contract. But it was Rodrygo’s first official proposal, he was 16 and it was Liverpool."

A move to Anfield never came to fruition, however, with the Brazilian opting to sign for Madrid in 2019 for a fee of £39million.

While the winger, 24, has enjoyed an immensely successful career in Spain with three La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies and a plethora of other honours to his name, his influence on the pitch last season suffered due to the attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.

His decline in action has resulted in speculation linking him away with a move to the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. However, Spurs have now been entered into the rumour mill with AS reporting that the Europa League champions are targeting his signature as a replacement for Son, who is expected to join LAFC after announcing his intention to leave Spurs on Saturday.

The north London side have already signed a wide player this summer after spending £55m on Mohammed Kudus, but it was only seven months prior that they were looking to sign another player liked by Klopp, after they battled to lure Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain.

Spurs were engaged in discussions to sign the Frenchman on loan in January but he instead opted to choose spending the rest of the season at Juventus, where he netted 10 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions.

It was during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt that Sky Germany reported that the striker rejected the opportunity to join Klopp at Liverpool in what would have been a club-record £88m deal.

He instead remained in the Bundesliga before returning to his homeland in a £76m deal to sign for PSG but has only scored 11 goals in 54 games for the French champions. After returning to form in Italy, the Serie A giants are looking to sign him permanently but could face competition once again from Spurs who'll need to fill the gap left by the South Korean icon.

Arsenal could allow Tottenham to steal a march in the transfer tussle for Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze as the Gunners are said to be reluctant to meet the player’s £68million release clause. The 27-year-old is attracting interest from a number of clubs this summer after starring for the Eagles last season.

Eze joined Palace from QPR in 2020 and has gone on to contribute 40 goals and 28 assists in 167 appearances for the south London club. Last season he bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions and even popped up with the only goal of the game as Palace stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

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According to talkSPORT, Arsenal don’t intend to trigger Eze’s release clause, despite the fact they have already held talks with the player.

And that decision could play into the hands of Tottenham as the Lilywhites could decide to stump up the cash Palace are after to put themselves in the driving seat to land the England international.

Spurs have been linked with Eze this summer after appointing Thomas Frank as their new manager in June.

And the Dane may convince Spurs chiefs to splash the cash on Eze, despite the fact the club have already signed winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham.

Despite their hesitancy when it comes to Eze’s release clause, Arsenal are still keen to prise the player away from Selhurst Park and may attempt to agree a lower transfer fee in exchange for his services.

The Gunners don’t expect personal terms to be a problem and remain confident of signing the talented ace.

Eze, meanwhile, is said to be sold on a transfer to the Emirates Stadium and is excited about the opportunity to play in a No. 10 role if he does link up with the Gunners.

Last week, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked whether the club needed more players this summer after already landing Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard.

And the Spaniard replied: “I said that I was extremely happy with the way that we have approached the window and how aggressive we’ve been.

“There’s still a long period with the window open. So far, we are very happy with what we have achieved. Make sure that at the end of the window, we continue to be super happy.”

Meanwhile, Palace manager Oliver Glasner has told his bosses at Palace to keep hold of Eze after explaining at the end of last month: “As of now, I have 17 outfield players. I hope we don't lose any more.”