Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly nearing the completion of a deal to sign Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze. Negotiations between the two London clubs have progressed, and the transfer saga appears to be reaching its conclusion.
Spurs have been long-term admirers of Eze and tried to sign him last summer. Their need for the player has grown since James Maddison suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture. New Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is looking to add creativity to the squad, and the club can offer Eze Champions League football.
Eze's move to Tottenham is said to be 'imminent' after talks between the two Premier League clubs progressed. Sources indicate that Eze has already agreed to personal terms with Tottenham. He is keen to join Spurs and has communicated his desire to take advantage of the opportunity to move to north London. The England international is eager to compete in the Champions League and secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup squad.
Crystal Palace, however, are in a strong negotiating position. Eze's £68 million release clause expired recently, giving Palace full control over the final fee. Tottenham are reportedly willing to offer a £55 million fixed fee plus £5 million in add-ons to complete the deal. Crystal Palace want more of the fee paid up front to help them secure a replacement. They also want that replacement in place before releasing Eze. Leicester City's Bilal El Khannouss and Club Brugge midfielder Christos Tzolis are potential targets for Crystal Palace.
Palace chairman Steve Parish is known to be a tough negotiator, and any deal will likely have to be done on Palace's terms. The Eagles are keen to keep their key players, including Eze, until after their Europa Conference League campaign kicks off. As such, the transfer might not be finalized until after Palace's play-off first leg against Fredrikstad on Thursday.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Eze started for Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener against Chelsea. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has stated that Eze is a Crystal Palace player and would play for them as long as he performs well. He also said that the club would decide Eze's future.
Tottenham have made a strong start to the Premier League season, and the addition of Eze could further boost their squad. Spurs consultant Fabio Paratici was present at Stamford Bridge during Palace's match against Chelsea, where discussions regarding the transfer reportedly took place.
However, Eze's past affiliation with Arsenal has resurfaced amid the transfer links to Tottenham. Footage has emerged of Eze, while playing for Queens Park Rangers in 2018, revealing that his favorite team was Arsenal. It remains to be seen whether this will affect his potential move to Tottenham.
Tottenham are also reportedly interested in signing Savinho from Manchester City and are in the market for a new center-back. They have identified potential targets, with finalizing deals for Eze and Savinho being the priority.