Tottenham Pivots to New Transfer Targets After Eze Rejection Rocks Summer Plans
With the summer transfer window rapidly approaching its conclusion, Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank remains without a proper No. 10 player in his squad.
The North London club has been hit by devastating injury setbacks during the summer months, leaving James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski facing extended spells away from action.
Kulusevski's knee problem picked up in May has proven more serious than first thought, with the Swedish international potentially sidelined until January. Maddison suffered an ACL tear during a pre-season match against Newcastle in Seoul, ruling him out for most of the 2025-26 season.
While the club has tried to find solutions, their pursuits of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze both ended in disappointment. Gibbs-White surprisingly penned a new deal with his current club, while Eze held out for Arsenal's approach.
Arsenal's late intervention has left Spurs searching desperately for alternatives, and according to The Telegraph, these are the options currently under consideration.
Maghnes Akliouche
The Monaco midfielder was initially considered as a backup option for Savinho before the Eze pursuit collapsed, though Spurs remain interested in the Manchester City player. Akliouche fits a similar profile to Eze, making their ongoing interest in the 23-year-old logical.
Akliouche had his breakthrough season in France's top flight last term, building on promising displays in 2023-24. He registered 15 goal involvements in league play, including ten assists. The creative midfielder also featured in Monaco's opening Ligue 1 fixture of the 2025-26 season, sealing their win against Le Havre with a close-range finish.
The elegant playmaker might need to bulk up physically for Premier League success, but his technical ability is outstanding; he excels in confined areas and shows great vision when breaking down organized defenses. Though he often begins wide, he naturally drifts into central areas. His arrival could allow Mohammed Kudus to operate more centrally.
Bayer Leverkusen are also pursuing his signature, and although Monaco prefer to keep him, they would consider selling for the appropriate fee.
Nico Paz
Spurs' pursuit of Paz gained momentum following the Gibbs-White disappointment, with renewed speculation surfacing recently.
Most observers believe this transfer would be challenging to complete, given Como's determination to keep last season's Serie A Young Player of the Year for another campaign.
Paz contributed 14 goals and assists for Cesc Fabregas' team in league competition last season, having arrived from Real Madrid the summer before. While Madrid retain a buyback option, they cannot exercise it until 2026. This means Como might sell if Spurs present a substantial bid, though the ambitious Italian side aren't financially pressured.
The 20-year-old represents significant potential, but desperate Spurs would be gambling considerably with a major investment.
Tyler Dibling
Spurs were allegedly interested in acquiring the youngster during January, but Southampton's enormous valuation prevented any deal from materializing.
Dibling's reputation suffered slightly toward season's end, as Russell Martin's replacements showed less faith in the distinctive playmaker. Nevertheless, the Saints prospect has attracted significant Premier League attention this summer, with Crystal Palace and Everton among his admirers.
Tottenham have renewed their interest, though many fans would be underwhelmed if Dibling became their chosen alternative. Despite his obvious talent, he would represent the typical Daniel Levy approach: a developmental signing with modest salary demands.