Tottenham already have potential Savinho alternative lined up

Tottenham's ambitious move for Manchester City winger Savinho is stalling, but the club have a supposed alternative lined up in Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche.

The vibes are certainly beaming with positivity in N17 after Saturday's victory over Burnley, and there's an expectation that Spurs, after 762 tedious Fabrizio Romano updates, will finally get a deal struck for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze.

Eze is a game-changing addition. One of the most exciting new additions of modern times, all while filling a distinct need following James Maddison's ACL tear. As we've been negotiating with Palace, bids have supposedly been made and rebuffed by Man City for Savinho, who will only let the 21-year-old depart if their valuation is matched.

Pep Guardiola may be happy to let the talented Brazilian starlet leave, but City Football Group CEO Ferran Soriano reportedly isn't convinced, and that's currently a major sticking point in any potential deal.

Maghnes Akliouche as Savinho alternative is curious development

Unless we make an offer City simply can't refuse, one that perhaps exceeds their previous reported asking price, Savinho looks set to remain at the Etihad in a World Cup year.

However, Spurs are intent on adding Eze and one more, so it's no surprise that potential Savinho alternatives are being reported. According to The Independent's Miguel Delaney, our attentions are starting to shift towards Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche.

Delaney adds that Monaco would demand just shy of £50m for the 23-year-old's services.

I say this is a "curious development", not because I have any doubts about Akliouche's talent, but because a Savinho alternative he is not. They are two completely different profiles. The Frenchman is who I would've expected us to target had talks with Crystal Palace for Eze collapsed, but it seems like that deal is on the brink of completion. THANK GOD.

While versatile, Akliouche is not a touchline winger of Savinho's ilk. He's a multi-faceted playmaker who prefers to play inside, much like Eze, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski.

He's a profile we arguably already have, but I'm certainly not throwing my arms up at the potential of Thomas Frank getting a hold of the Monaco playmaker. With, hopefully, Eze and Akliouche, the technical level of this Tottenham team is continuously improving, and Frank will have an array of problem-solvers at his disposal behind the striker—just like when we had Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min serving Harry Kane.

Kudus, Akliouche and Eze is a dynamite trio, but it will take some of Frank's best work to establish a balance.