How does one get over such a debacle?
We all thought it would be Eberechi Eze and one more to close out the summer transfer window, with our interest in Manchester City winger Savinho emerging before we reappeared in the Eze sweepstake.
All things considered, our deal for Eze was on the brink. It was the "details" preventing a full agreement, as well as Crystal Palace's Conference League playoff on Thursday. However, we allowed negotiations to drag out long enough that playing in their first ever European outing was a possibility.
Given our need at the No. 10 position, Eze should've been donning Lilywhite in time for Gameweek One. As the days passed with no full agreement reached, the familiar sense of dread started to manifest. In the end, a Kai Havertz injury proved to be the fuse that ignited Wednesday evening's "bombas". A swift and silent hijacking means Eze is Arsenal-bound. It hurts.
Supporters can only hope this convinces the club to break the bank for Savinho, even if the deal will be tricky to pull off, with CEO Ferran Soriano among those keen to retain the Brazilian. For the right price, though, the Cityzens are likely to budge. Pep Guardiola rarely retains those who'd prefer to play elsewhere.
Tottenham could replace Son Heung-min with Ademola Lookman
With Eze off the table and the Savinho move stagnating, where do Thomas Frank's Spurs turn?
We still need two attacking signings through the door off the back of James Maddison's knee surgery and Son Heung-min's departure. A No. 10 is of paramount importance, but a width-holder down the left is another profile we should be after. A player who covers both would be ideal!
There have been links to Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and Southampton's Tyler Dibling in the aftermath of the Eze hijacking. However, I think it's obvious who Spurs should go after next: Ademola Lookman.
The Nigerian international is perhaps somewhere in between what we ideally need. He's not a central playmaker, nor a specialist touchline winger. Lookman prefers to operate as an inside forward, but is versatile enough to perform an array of functions.
His first stint in the Premier League was so-so, but Lookman's been a consistent performer for a good Atalanta side for three years. He's hit double-digit Serie A goals in all three campaigns, and memorably struck a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final to seal La Dea their first piece of European silverware.
If we're looking for a sharpshooter to mitigate Son's void, then Lookman's the man. He's outperformed his expected goals in every season since arriving in Italy, doing so by a healthy 4.7 margin last term. Cutting inside and striking fiercely at the near post has emerged as the Nigerian's trademark.
Lookman certainly benefitted from playing under Gian Piero Gasperini, who quickly turned Rasmus Hojlund into a £65m forward, but Frank also has a reputation for maximising the talent of attacking stars. The 27-year-old is approaching his peak, but that shouldn't deter the Lilywhites (Eze is also 27).
Moreover, the forward handed in a transfer request earlier this summer, and Atalanta are resigned to letting him go. An offer just in excess of £40m will reportedly suffice after his proposed move to Inter fell through.
Get on the phone, Fabio.