If he doesn’t turn things around in a big way this month, Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy could have a lot of explaining to do by the time the 2025/26 Premier League season starts up, because Spurs are getting roundly beaten to all of their top targets on the summer transfer market this year.
First, Tottenham took too long to even get their window started after waffling on the decision to fire Ange Postecoglou, canning him just when fans thought the hesitation was an indication that Postecoglou would stay after bringing the Europa League title back to N17.
Then, Tottenham struck out on two key players new manager Thomas Frank wanted. They missed out on star right winger Bryan Mbeumo, who will almost certainly join Manchester United largely because Daniel Levy won’t spend to get him. They even missed out on Christian Norgaard, the key midfield leader and defensive cover agent for Frank at Brentford, as he immediatley joined forces with bitter rivals Arsenal once they showed interest.
There are other targets Tottenham have missed out on this summer, but getting beat to Norgaard by the Gunners was more than a tad embarrassing. And now, Tottenham are about to lose out on another player for a London club to the Gunners after previously viewing him as their top transfer target before cooling their interest because, once again, the player wasn’t cheap enough for Levy’s stringent standards.
Arsenal are making fast headway again
According to Fabrizio Romano, Crystal Palace star attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, fresh off leading his Eagles to the FA Cup title, has “opened doors” to joining Arsenal this summer in a “clear” manner and is now “open” to joining the Gunners because he is “attracted” by the project.
Just as the Norgaard to Arsenal move developed quickly, perhaps Eze’s transfer within London to the Gunners will, too, turning a potential local hero into a versatile rival who can hurt Spurs from either wing or even supplant Martin Odegaard as the Gunners’ star in the attacking midfield.
Tottenham fans understand that Eze is pricy with a 68 million pound release clause, but watching him destroy Spurs head-to-head as a Gunner would cost even more, especially if the FA Cup winner becomes a Premier League winner with Arsenal.
Of course, a splashy move for an attacking midfielder like Eze could always backfire, and the real test here will be how Tottenham respond if Arsenal nab the player they once pursued. There are other midfield options who are arguably better, like Xavi Simons, but missing out on a proven Premier League talent will always sting for Spurs supporters, especially if Arsenal are involved.
