Tottenham might not have been particularly interested in Christian Norgaard, but, given his history with Thomas Frank and our midfield needs, it's a move that would've made sense.
The Dane is a dependable Premier League performer who'll be taking his useful profile to the wrong side of north London. After reports emerged of Brentford's £45m valuation for their captain, Arsenal swooped and secured a £15m deal (including add-ons) for the 31-year-old.
With Norgaard off the market and Spurs still boasting a distinct midfield need, it's time for the club to pivot.
Here are four realistic Norgaard alternatives the club should target.
Douglas Luiz
Despite helping Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League, Douglas Luiz opted for pastures new last summer as he joined Juventus.
However, his shot at the big time has so far been pretty disastrous, with injuries limiting the midfielder to just three Serie A starts during his debut season. Luiz's 2024/25 campaign was so disappointing that Juve are reportedly already looking to cut ties, and he could be available for as little as €25m this summer.
Talk about a market opportunity Spurs should be all over!
Luiz perhaps isn't the holding midfielder some believe we need, but he's of the 'destroyer' ilk who boasts a decent enough passing range. The Brazilian's best form arrived during his final season at Villa, when Unai Emery let him off the leash and allowed him to dominate between the boxes. He recorded 14 Premier League goal contributions in 2023/24.
If Thomas Frank can get a similar tune out of Luiz as Emery eventually did, he'd be a great addition for that price.
Lucien Agoume
The former Inter starlet has embarked on a journeyman-like career already. Lucien Agoume has so far taken his talents to Spezia, Brest, Troyes and Sevilla before turning 24.
He's settled in Spain and has impressed for a slumping Sevilla outfit in desperate need of rejuvenation. Agoume has caught the eye of several clubs, including Arsenal, and, like Luiz, will be available for a bargain price this summer.
While I'm not yet convinced that Agoume is the metronomic figure Frank might need, he's superb without the ball. According to FBRef, the 23-year-old ranked in the 86th percentile for tackles per 90 minutes (2.98), the 87th percentile for aerial duels won p90 (1.79) and the 95th percentile for interceptions p90 (1.75) among midfielders in Europe's top five leagues last season.
With the Gunners moving for Norgaard, Spurs could have a free run at Agoume.
Nicolo Rovella
There's a reason why Champions League finalists Inter want to sign Nicolo Rovella as their long-term successor for Hakan Calhanoglu at the base of midfield. The Italian is one of the best passers in Serie A.
Spurs are currently blessed with several midfielders who are relatively similar in profile. They have impressive engines and can carry the ball up field, but we're currently without someone who can reliably break lines or switch play with a dreamy diagonal. Frank requires more consistency in the build-up phase than what Yves Bissouma provides, and a midfielder less prone to Rodrigo Bentancur-like concentration lapses.
Rovella emerged as a deep-lying playmaker at Genoa. He was a wily, skinny operator who broke lines for fun and could control tempo. Those regista traits have since been complemented by a drastic defensive evolution, which has turned Rovella into a mightily desirable midfielder. While not the most imposing of figures, the Italian is athletic and relentless.
He might not be as progressive as he once was in possession, but he's such a smart operator with the ball at his feet. Rovella was one of my revelations of last season, and I think he'd be a wonderful fit for a double pivot in N17.
Joao Palhinha
Joao Palhinha finally earned his big move to Bayern Munich off the back of an excellent spell in the Premier League with Fulham. The former Sporting CP midfielder dominated statistically on English shores, but was far too willing to pick up bookings.
Many thought Palhinha was the ideal profile for a Bayern team that had struggled to contain transitions in midfield under Thomas Tuchel. He was the steely presence needed alongside Joshua Kimmich. However, after year one, Palhinha was named by his peers as the most disappointing player in the Bundesliga last season in a poll run by Kicker magazine.
The Portuguese international perhaps doesn't boast the necessary attributes in possession to thrive for a Bayern team that dominate the ball in almost every game they play.
Such limitations mean Palhinha wouldn't be my ideal midfield target this summer, but I don't think he'd be a bad option. There are few superior 'destroyers' in European football.