Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly concerned that either Arsenal or Manchester City could hijack their proposed £68m deal for Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze.
The 26-year-old was thought to have been a summer target for several top clubs after a stellar 2023-24 season, in which he scored 11 goals and set up four more in 27 Premier League matches.
Even though Eze's contract at Selhurst Park does not expire for another three seasons, the Eagles would have been powerless had an interested party triggered his release clause, thought to be worth £68m.
However, no club made a move before that option expired, and Eze has since started the 2024-25 season as he means to go on with two goals from four matches across all tournaments.
The England international's £68m release clause reportedly re-activates next summer, though, and according to FootballTransfers, Spurs came the closest to prising him away from Palace this summer.
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Tottenham 'worried' Eze's head has been turned
The report claims that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy went on the charm offensive earlier this year, inviting Eze and his family to April's North London derby against Arsenal and even reaching a gentleman's agreement with the player.
However, the Lilywhites were supposedly then informed by Eze's entourage that they had been contacted by some of their Premier League rivals, and the Palace man put his move to Tottenham on ice as a result.
Instead, the North London giants struck a deal to sign Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth for a club-record £65m, and they will most likely reignite their pursuit of Eze at the end of the current campaign.
Ange Postecoglou's side are apparently now concerned that either Man City or Arsenal have managed to turn Eze's head, though, and they will likely need to qualify for the Champions League to stand a chance of winning the race.
The 26-year-old boasts a total of 28 goals and 17 assists in 128 matches for Palace across all competitions since joining from Queens Park Rangers in 2020, commanding a £15m fee to leave Loftus Road.
Which club would be the best fit for Eze?
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An incredibly versatile and tricky attacker who is just about to hit his prime years, Eze would be a dream for any of the three aforementioned sides, and £68m is not an outlandish price for a player of his quality.
The 26-year-old tends to either thrive on the left or through the middle as a number 10, and Arsenal could certainly do with a player in the latter profile if Fabio Vieira ultimately fails to make the grade.
A left-winger would also not go amiss at the Emirates, as Leandro Trossard turns 30 in December and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, while Raheem Sterling's loan should not be made permanent either.
However, Eze may very well be regarded as a natural successor to Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City, as the Belgian's contract only runs until 2025, but regular starts are never a guarantee at the Etihad.
Alternatively, the 26-year-old could fill Son Heung-min's boots on the left-hand side of the Tottenham attack, and the prospect of him linking up with Solanke and James Maddison is a fascinating one.
Ben Knapton
