Tottenham Hotspur were always looking at another playmaker in the summer transfer window this year, but after missing out on Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White last month, the push from the fans to sign another playmaker only increased after the sweet taste of success was replaced with the bitter state of missing out.
And now, Tottenham have to be desperate for a new No. 10 to start immediately, as Spurs lost star man James Maddison to a torn ACL that will likely end up costing him the entire 2025/26 season, unless the Premier League veteran makes a swift and full recovery.
Tottenham have circled back to Eberechi Eze as their main transfer target in the No. 10 spot, as he is a proven London-based star in the Premire League and is fresh off winning the FA Cup without Michael Olise by his side.
Tottenham have to sign Eberechi Eze now
Spurs have even more reason to place Eze at the top of their list, because another key attacking midfield transfer target whom the club showed interest in earlier in the transfer window is apparently set to make a move to the same club that cost them a major signing.
Per a report from Ben Jacobs of Give Me Sport, not only have Manchester City youngster James McAtee and Nottingham Forest agreed to terms, which Fabrizio Romano had already reported was close, but Forest now have an "agreement in place" with Man City on a transfer. A deal could be done officially before the Premier League season begins this weekend.
McAtee is one of the brightest young stars in the Premier League, and he could have been a nifty signing for Tottenham at half the price of Eze. Now, Spurs have the Champions League to worry about and probably preferred someone like Eze because they are proven, but Daniel Levy's M.O. has also been to go after ascending young stars.
There's no doubt that McAtee has the potential to be one of the best in the Premier League one day, and the 22-year-old talent does have more long-term upside than Eze. Since Morgan Gibbs-White already signed a contract extension with Forest, this transfer isn't going to help Spurs get their hands on MGW, so it's more of an act of revenge from Forest to take a top young target off the table from Spurs after already preventing them from activating MGW's 60 million pound release clause. It's going to be full steam ahead for Eze from a Spurs perspective now.