Time is ticking for Tottenham Hotspur to make a vital signing before the summer transfer window closes, because it would be an absolute travesty if Spurs were to enter the 2025/26 Premier League season without a single healthy No. 10 in light of James Maddison's injury and Dejan Kulusevski's ongoing recovery from his own knee injury.
Tottenham currently don't have a true attacking playmaker - or even a deeper lying one, for that matter. Everything is manufactured off the wide players like Mohammed Kudus or the pressing system enforced by Thomas Frank, and while Manchester City can certainly attest to the efficacy of that, not signing a real creative force could hold Spurs back from their true potential of competing for the Premier League title.
Spurs showed against Manchester City and even the loss to PSG that they can compete against anyone, so imagine what they can do over the course of a full season with a top No. 10. One of the targets Tottenham have been eyeing over the course of the summer is Xavi Simons, but they haven't reallly been bold enough to go for him, given his preference to join rivals Chelsea despite the Blues own lack of movement on the Dutchman.
However, Simons could soon be going to Chelsea, as the Blues have found a landing spot for Christopher Nkunku, who, in truth, should also be on the Tottenham transfer radar as a former RB Leipzig Bundesliga Player of the Year winner.
Tottenham are about to lose two birds with one stone
According to a new report from Fabrizio Romano, AC Milan and Chelsea are in transfer negotiations regarding an Nkunku move. With "talks on" between the two sides regarding a transfer fee, it looks like Nkunku could soon be a member of the Rossoneri to fill the shoes of current Manchester City star Tijjani Reijnders.
Nkunku didn't make the most of his time at Chelsea due to a combination of injuries and Cole Palmer's breakout, but there is no questioning his all-around quality. Spurs could have used him, but they could really use Xavi Simons as a half 8 and 10.
With Nkunku getting closer to a Milan move, it's only a matter of time before Chelsea finally get the Simons deal over the line. That would leave Tottenham down two proven playmaking options, and, at this point in the transfer window, West Ham star Lucas Paqueta might be the only valid and available option for Tottenham Hotspur at the 10.