Eberechi Eze to Arsenal update rubs fresh salt in Tottenham wound
Arsenal are nearing the completion of their sensational hijacking of Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who was set to join North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Eze, 27, had agreed terms to join Tottenham in a move worth around £60million plus add ons but on Wednesday evening Arsenal swooped in and hijacked the deal.
The Gunners were forced to move quickly after news emerged of a significant knee injury for forward Kai Havertz and Eze was the desired target.
Personal terms have been agreed and Arsenal have had a bid accepted by Palace that is reported to be in the same region as Tottenham’s transfer proposal.
Eze nears Arsenal move despite Tottenham agreement
Despite the move being forced into action due to the timing of Havertz’s injury many pundits and fans believe Eze can be the quality signing that Arsenal needed to finally secure their fourth Premier League title.
Speaking to Jim White and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT, Ben Jacobs revealed: “Eze was faced with a straight choice between Arsenal and Spurs, and in that scenario, with both clubs having a club-to-club agreement, he was always going to pick Arsenal.”
Jacobs also highlighted how Arsenal were “first to the table” in a deal for Eze, making an approach in late June before pivoting their interest elsewhere after Ethan Nwaneri signed a new deal at the Emirates Stadium despite having “buy in” from the former Queens Park Rangers man.
It was due to this earlier work done by Arsenal that allowed them to move so quickly in the move for Eze, but Jacobs believes this all could have been avoided by Tottenham: “The window of opportunity for me, according to sources, was before the opening game.”
Now Eze is off the table, Thomas Frank’s side will have to assess other transfer targets and Jacobs says they’re still looking to target numerous positions: “I think Tottenham still want two signings, a left winger and a number 10 so it will be interesting to see now what direction they move in.”
Some of the names discussed by Jacobs include, Manchester City’s Savinho, RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, but Spurs appear to be on the back foot in all of those respective negotiations.
Tottenham must make a clinical move for another high profile attacker in the wake of Eze rejection
Football Insider verdict
Despite their clinical 3-0 victory over Burnley on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, Tottenham will be hoping to attract one or two big names before the transfer window closes in less than two weeks.
New head coach Frank will likely be content with his defensive and midfield options all of whom size up fairly similarly to what the Danish boss had at his disposal at Brentford.
However, options in the forward line are light with Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison being joined by the lone attacking signing of Mohammed Kudus so far this summer.
| Name | Goals |
| Dominic Solanke | 9 |
| Dejan Kulusevski | 7 |
| Brennan Johnson | 11 |
| Richarlison | 4 |
Solanke and Kulusevski are currently sidelined with injury meaning Frank’s options are thin on the ground, but Tottenham will know they have the funds to target a new attacking addition in the coming weeks.
So far in the window Tottenham have targeted Savinho, Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, and Eze with a move for the latter being blocked at board level by Man City according to Jacobs in his talkSPORT report.
Frank will want quality depth pieces in his squad as the Lilywhites look to compete in the Champions League this season as well as aiming to improve on their miserable 17th place finish in the Premier League last season.