Fabrizio Romano shares major update coming out of Tottenham Hotspur Transfer this Summer
Tottenham Hotspur are back in the market for an attacking midfielder following the collapse of a high-profile move for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White. According to renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the North London club have already begun working on signing an alternative target to bolster their creative options ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The Lilywhites were dealt a major setback last weekend when Gibbs-White unexpectedly penned a new long-term contract at the City Ground, just as a move to Tottenham seemed all but completed. This development marked the first major blow for new head coach Thomas Frank since his appointment, disrupting what had been shaping up to be a highly productive summer transfer window for Spurs.
Just a few weeks earlier, Gibbs-White appeared poised to join Tottenham in a blockbuster £60 million deal. Chairman Daniel Levy was reportedly prepared to trigger the England international’s release clause, following swiftly on the heels of their £55 million acquisition of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, as reported by ESPN.
The move was so far down the line that Tottenham had already arranged a medical for Gibbs-White, scheduled for July 11. However, in a dramatic twist, Nottingham Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis stepped in to halt the deal in its tracks. According to reports from Sky Sports, Marinakis even threatened legal action against Spurs, accusing them of breaching confidentiality protocols and attempting to ‘tap up’ the player without proper communication through official channels.
In an unexpected turnaround, Marinakis succeeded in doing what Forest had failed to do for the past year—convincing the 25-year-old playmaker to commit his future to the club with a new deal. This swift intervention and contract renewal forced Tottenham to go back to the drawing board in search of another creative midfielder to fill the number 10 role.
Tottenham’s need for midfield inspiration has been made even more apparent by their recent pre-season performances. In a lacklustre 0-0 draw against League One side Luton Town, the absence of attacking spark was clear to see. While pre-season games are often not the best indicators of regular season form, the display raised some early questions about the club’s attacking depth—particularly with James Maddison still recovering from a knee injury and yet to feature this summer. The England international has, however, been named in the squad for the team’s upcoming pre-season tour of Asia, giving fans hope he’ll soon return to action.
With Gibbs-White now off the table, Romano has confirmed that Spurs are not wasting time licking their wounds. In his recent column for GiveMeSport, he stated that the club are actively exploring alternatives. While he didn’t reveal specific names just yet, the key takeaway is that Tottenham remain determined to strengthen their midfield before the new season begins.
“They’re working on it,” Romano wrote. “As soon as I know, I will tell you.”
One possible candidate who could emerge as a realistic alternative is Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze. The 27-year-old has been linked with a move to Tottenham earlier this summer, and his name continues to circulate in the rumour mill. Arsenal are also believed to be monitoring his situation closely, but no formal deal has been completed—leaving the door open for Spurs to swoop in.
Eze has a reported release clause of £60 million, which could rise to £68 million with performance-based bonuses—an amount that aligns closely with what Tottenham were prepared to spend on Gibbs-White. Given his exceptional form last season, where he netted 14 goals and provided 11 assists across all competitions—including a memorable winning strike in the FA Cup final against Manchester City—Eze would represent an elite-level reinforcement for Thomas Frank’s new-look side.
In many ways, the former QPR star is a natural fit for the attacking midfield role at Spurs. He combines creativity with goal-scoring ability and has already proven himself on the big stage. If Tottenham are looking for a player capable of immediately improving their first-team squad, Eze should be at the very top of their list.
For now, Tottenham fans will have to wait and see who the club targets next—but with the clock ticking toward the start of the Premier League season and key fixtures looming, decisive action will be required. One thing is certain: after the disappointment of missing out on Gibbs-White, Spurs cannot afford to miss again.