'No truth' in reports linking Tottenham to exciting Eberechi Eze alternative

Keep calm and carry on.

After the Eberechi Eze humiliation, Tottenham are scrambling around. We can only hope Johan Lange is back from Copenhagen.

As details continue to emerge, it seems more like Daniel Levy was played like a fiddle by Crystal Palace and Steve Parish. Eze was always Arsenal-bound. That doesn't render the Spurs chairman blameless, mind. Let me make that clear.

There was an opportunity to strike a deal at a key position of need for a player we've long desired, but instead, our fiercest rivals will enjoy the fruits of his labour throughout the maverick's apex.

So, we're back to square one. In the immediate aftermath of Arsenal's hijacking, potential alternatives surfaced in the media. Among those, the recently crowned PFA Young Player of the Year Morgan Rogers.

Tottenham never going to pay Aston Villa's asking price for Morgan Rogers

The Independent's Miguel Delaney lists Rogers, Nico Paz, Xavi Simons, Tyler Dibling, Conor Gallagher (?) and Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche as the options Spurs could now turn to. Thomas Frank needs two through the door, and the club remain hopeful of striking a deal with Manchester City for Savinho.

James Maddison's injury means the addition of a No. 10 is absolutely paramount, and among those listed above, Rogers is the name most familiar to supporters. The Aston Villa star enjoyed a superb 2024/25 campaign, recording 18 Premier League goal contributions. He's the transition machine Frank seemingly wants, proving himself to be an immensely powerful ball-carrier with polish in the final third.

Delaney suggested that Rogers is the one we're going after, with Aston Villa potentially facilitating a sale to ease PSR concerns. However, they still supposedly want at least £80m.

Considering the penny pinching that occurred in the Eze deal, which was around the £60m mark, how can we believe Levy would be so willing to drop that figure on Rogers? Sky Sports' Michael Bridge, who went to my school (fun fact!), quickly played down the links to the 23-year-old, writing on X that there's "no truth" to the reports.

Rogers, of course, would be an excellent addition, but it's hard to get excited about his potential arrival. We're not going to stump up the cash Villa want for the Englishman, so I'd prefer it if we didn't waste precious time with so little of it left in the summer window.

Nico Paz is my ideal (assuming Simons is heading to Chelsea), but all selling clubs will be well aware of our desperation.