Tottenham Hotspur have lived through many difficult transfer windows but the last few days have carried the sting of something far more familiar in north London.
They thought they had their breakthrough on Wednesday when talks with Crystal Palace moved forward for Eberechi Eze, a player they had tracked since his early days at Loftus Road, only to see Arsenal step in and snatch him at the final stage.
Supporters old enough to remember Sol Campbell’s switch across the city could recognize the familiar ache of losing out to their rivals again.
Thomas Frank now faces the same problem he hoped Eze would solve, because his midfield is already stretched thin with James Maddison sidelined, Dejan Kulusevski recovering from a serious issue, and Yves Bissouma missing the opening league match.
Attempts to secure Morgan Gibbs-White fell apart earlier in the summer and a bold loan approach for Rodrygo met a quick rejection in Madrid.
With doors closing quickly, Spurs have now shifted their focus toward Serie A.
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Spurs identify Serie-A star as potential alternative
According to The Telegraph, Thomas Frank has turned his attention to Nico Paz, the 20-year-old Argentine midfielder from Como.
It is understood, he is viewed as an alternative to Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, another player on Tottenham’s shortlist.
Serie-A player flourished under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas and built a reputation for unlocking defenses with vision and Tottenham see him as a credible option after Eze deal collapsed.
But the deal for Paz is far from straightforward and The Premier League side even earlier reportedly saw a €40m [$46m] bid rejected with Como valuing the Argentine midfielder at €70m [$81m].
However, Real Madrid remain a key factor in any negotiations.
The Spanish giants inserted a €9m [$10m] buy-back clause valid until 2026, rising to €10m [$11m] in 2027 and also secured a 50% sell-on clause, which would have left Como with only €20m [$23m] from Tottenham’s initial offer.
Adding to Spurs’ challenge, Xabi Alonso has reportedly shown interest in recalling Paz.
Tottenham news and related links
- Former Tottenham manager in race to replace Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest
- Tottenham dealt long-term injury blow ahead of Premier League clash against Man City
- Why did Eberechi Eze reject Tottenham for Arsenal?