Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to securing the signature of Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze as they intensify their pursuit of attacking reinforcements. Palace, however, are holding off on finalizing the deal until they secure a suitable replacement for their talisman.
Spurs’ renewed interest in Eze comes at a crucial time, with James Maddison sidelined by a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury and Dejan Kulusevski also ruled out with a knee problem. Both players have been central to Tottenham’s creativity, and the club sees Eze as the perfect solution to maintain attacking balance. The England international is reportedly open to the move, and negotiations between the clubs are progressing positively.
Although Eze’s contract previously contained a £68m release clause, it expired last week. Tottenham are aiming to strike a deal in the region of £55m plus bonuses. Queens Park Rangers, his former club, will benefit from the transfer as they are entitled to 15% of any profit Palace make. Having signed him from QPR for around £19m in 2020, Palace stand to gain significantly from his sale.
As Palace prepare for life without Eze, they have set their sights on reinforcements. Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss and Christos Tzolis of Club Bruges are on their shortlist, though bids for both players have faced initial setbacks. Palace offered £20m for El Khannouss, but Leicester are holding out for around £26m. A £25m bid has also been submitted for Tzolis, who previously played in England with Norwich City.
Meanwhile, Spurs have strengthened their defensive core by extending the contract of Cristian Romero until 2029. The Argentina international has also been handed the captaincy following Son Heung-min’s departure to Los Angeles FC, cementing his long-term role at the club. Right-back Djed Spence has similarly committed his future with a new long-term deal.
At Palace, Marc Guéhi’s future also remains uncertain. With only a year left on his contract, the defender has attracted strong interest from Liverpool, but the Merseyside club have yet to meet Palace’s £40m valuation. Guéhi is understood to be open to staying and running down his contract, though Palace would prefer to sell now rather than risk losing him on a free transfer.
As the transfer window heats up, Tottenham look determined to bolster their attack with Eze’s arrival, while Palace navigate the challenges of replacing one of their most influential players.
