Spurs likely to see £47m bid accepted for “ridiculous” star, he’d be their own Nico Paz
Tottenham Hotspur once again find themselves in the thick of the transfer market spotlight. Rarely are Spurs out of the headlines during a transfer window, but this summer has been particularly dramatic.
After a turbulent off-season that saw the club make the shock decision to part ways with Ange Postecoglou despite his popularity among supporters, Spurs turned to Brentford’s Thomas Frank as their new head coach. The Dane arrived with a reputation for pragmatic tactics, intelligent recruitment, and player development—a skillset Tottenham hoped could breathe new life into a squad that badly needed direction.
Early results have been encouraging. Spurs opened their Premier League campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Burnley at home before delivering a statement 2-0 victory against Manchester City at the Etihad. Those performances steadied the nerves of fans still haunted by last season’s disastrous league campaign, which ended with a dismal 17th-place finish. Yet even in that bleak year, Spurs salvaged pride and secured a Champions League return by winning the Europa League final against Manchester United.
A Summer of Highs and Lows
The summer transfer window has been a story of contrasting fortunes for Tottenham. On one hand, the club said goodbye to an icon: Son Heung-min, who joined MLS side LAFC after a decade of service in north London. On the other, James Maddison suffered a devastating ACL injury in pre-season, ruling him out for the entire 2025/26 campaign. Losing their captain and their most creative midfielder in the same summer left the squad with a gaping creative void.
The club moved swiftly to address this by signing Mohamed Kudus from West Ham for £60 million, but there has been an underlying sense that more reinforcement is needed. Tottenham’s ambitions in the Champions League and their desire to avoid another Premier League collapse mean they cannot afford to rely on Kudus alone.
Missed Opportunities in the Market
The transfer window has not been without frustration. Spurs were strongly linked with Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, but both deals collapsed—Eze’s in particularly painful fashion as Arsenal swooped in to hijack negotiations. A €70m bid for Nico Paz was also rejected by Como, with Real Madrid’s buy-back clause complicating matters, while Manchester City turned down Tottenham’s attempts to sign Savinho, insisting on a £70m fee.
These setbacks left Spurs under pressure to identify a new creative solution. And it appears they may have found one in France.
Maghnes Akliouche: Spurs’ New Target
According to Football Insider, Tottenham are eyeing Monaco’s 23-year-old attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, with a £47.5m fee expected to be enough to secure his services. While Spurs have not yet lodged an official bid, the Ligue 1 club have made their price tag clear.
Akliouche has emerged as one of the brightest talents in French football. Primarily operating from the right wing, he is versatile enough to play centrally or on the left, making him an ideal candidate for Thomas Frank’s fluid system. Since breaking into Monaco’s first team in 2021, Akliouche has steadily developed into a reliable creative force.
In Ligue 1, he has racked up 13 goals and 14 assists, while last season alone he featured 32 times across league and Champions League matches. His performances have also earned him international recognition, with six caps and a goal for France already under his belt.
Why Akliouche Fits the Bill
Akliouche represents what Tottenham so urgently need: creativity blended with maturity. Unlike Paz, who remains raw at just 20, Akliouche has experience at the top level and has proven himself in European competition. His statistical profile also underlines his all-round qualities.
Chance Creation: He ranks in the 86th percentile for assists per 90 (0.30) among Europe’s top five leagues.
Ball Progression: With 6.15 progressive passes (89th percentile) and 4.58 progressive carries (79th percentile) per 90, Akliouche excels at advancing play.
Work Rate & Balance: Defensively, he stands out too—ranking in the 92nd percentile for interceptions (0.74 per 90)—a trait that makes him more complete than many creative midfielders.
This makes him not only a creative outlet but also a team player willing to press and defend, aligning with Frank’s high-energy philosophy.
In contrast, Nico Paz offers a more direct attacking profile, registering elite numbers for shots and dribbles but lacking the balance that Tottenham currently require. Spurs’ collapse in the league last season demonstrated the dangers of relying on purely attacking talents without structural discipline.
The Bigger Picture
Spurs’ pursuit of Akliouche highlights both their urgency and their pragmatism. With Maddison sidelined for the season, they cannot risk entering a Champions League campaign without a replacement. Fans are also restless after watching rival clubs strengthen while Tottenham endured high-profile transfer setbacks.
At £47.5m, Akliouche represents value compared to the inflated fees for Paz and Savinho, while also providing immediate impact and long-term upside. He may not yet enjoy global recognition, but his blend of versatility, technical quality, and productivity could make him a cornerstone of Tottenham’s rebuild.
A Defining Moment for Tottenham’s Project
If Spurs do complete the deal, it would signal more than just a clever piece of business—it would represent a turning point in the club’s summer. For Thomas Frank, Akliouche could become the creative heartbeat of a new-look Tottenham, capable of linking midfield to attack and easing the burden on Kudus.
More importantly, his arrival would give fans belief that the club is still capable of securing top-tier talent despite recent setbacks. Spurs have been accused in the past of dithering in the market, but a decisive move for Akliouche could silence critics and help reshape the squad for a brighter future.
In short, Tottenham may have missed out on Paz, Eze, and Savinho, but in Maghnes Akliouche they could be about to land a player perfectly suited to their immediate needs and long-term ambitions.