The field of candidates at the No. 10 position seems to be pretty wide open due to the uncertainty of the situation for Tottenham Hotspur, as the club are scrambling for a valid James Maddison replacement after previous top target Eberechi Eze snubbed them at the last second for rivals Arsenal.
Eze's decision has sent Tottenham's summer transfer plans into a tailspin, and while there aren't many great options available in terms of playmakers who can raise Spurs level to that of a contender in the Champions League and Premier League, the undefeated North London giants still have a couple of quality players left to look at on the market.
Perhaps the most promising is Nico Paz of Como, though the complicated aspect of going for the Spanish international is the looming presence of Real Madrid, who can buy the player back at a future summer transfer window at a meager fee of less than 10 million euros. Removing that clause threat will likely take additional financial negotiation.
For now, though, Spurs seem serious about trying to pry Paz away from Como just one year after his breakout season helped the ambitious Italian side survive their first campaign in Serie A. According to veteran Italian transfer journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Tottenham have indeed followed through on their plan to submit an improved offer to Como for Paz.
Tottenham will likely have to pay more
After previously sending a bid to Italy for 40 million euros in exchange for the 20-year-old attacking midfield talent, Tottenham have now upped their offer to 50 million euros. While that's still significantly below the high price of 70 million euros that Como are asking for, there is likely room for negotiation underneath the "sell high" fee that Como are aiming for.
Perhaps Tottenham can snag Paz for something in between 50 and 70 million euros, though it's hard to see Como going for just 50 million when Paz still has more room to grow and is already so vital to Como's hopes. Now, Como are seeking more than just survival and are looking to invest and build towards something greater in Serie A.
Tottenham don't have many options, and Paz is one of the few who is both talented enough to play games for Tottenham right off the bat and with enough upside to be a long-term solution at the position alongside a, hopefully, healthy Maddison. Negotiations should continue, though a sticking point may not be just the fee for Paz to Como, but also the fact that Real Madrid will surely want a hefty slice of pie, too.