Tottenham could now be close to agreeing move for £208k-per-week “superstar”
Tottenham Hotspur are bracing themselves for a frantic final stretch of the summer transfer window, with club chiefs expected to ramp up talks for new attacking signings after their bitter failure to land Eberechi Eze. The North London outfit had spent weeks negotiating a deal with Crystal Palace for their talismanic No.10, only to see Arsenal swoop in late and hijack the transfer in dramatic fashion.
For much of August, Spurs believed they were in the driving seat. Personal terms with Eze were reportedly agreed, and a deal in principle with Palace had been struck. Everything seemed set for a marquee signing to replace the creativity lost through Son Heung-min’s departure to Saudi Arabia and James Maddison’s devastating ACL injury. Yet, just as the finishing line appeared in sight, Arsenal re-entered the race.
Mikel Arteta’s side reignited their pursuit of Eze almost immediately after Kai Havertz suffered a knee injury, forcing the Gunners into action. Within 24 hours, Arsenal had matched Palace’s demands, tabling a £60 million upfront bid with an additional £7.5 million in performance-based add-ons. Once their offer was accepted, the decision lay in Eze’s hands—and the 27-year-old chose the Emirates.
Journalist Alasdair Gold summed it up bluntly on X (formerly Twitter): “Arsenal came in late this afternoon—also agreeing to Palace’s terms—and the player chose Arsenal due to his connection to them. Another number 10 lost when Spurs thought it was done. Not a good look spending so long on a deal only for another club to get him within a day.”
The switch was always likely to sting for Spurs. Eze grew up an Arsenal supporter, came through their academy as a youth player, and has long been admired by the Gunners’ recruitment team. For Arteta, his arrival provides much-needed attacking invention to offset Havertz’s absence and bolster Arsenal’s title push. For Tottenham, however, it is another case of “so near, yet so far,” echoing similar frustrations from past windows when big targets slipped away at the final hurdle.
The fallout now leaves Spurs scrambling for alternatives. Chairman Daniel Levy and head coach Thomas Frank are under pressure to deliver an elite attacker before deadline day, not just to appease supporters but also to prove the club can compete at the top level. Their search has seen names like Savinho—still under Manchester City’s control—resurface, while an intriguing possibility has emerged in Spain.
Reports from Defensa Central suggest Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could become Tottenham’s next big move. The 24-year-old Brazilian, despite an impressive return of 14 goals and 11 assists last season, is not central to Xabi Alonso’s plans at the Bernabéu. With Madrid struggling to find serious buyers at their £86 million valuation, club president Florentino Pérez is now willing to sanction an initial loan move to get Rodrygo more game time.
For Spurs, the opportunity looks tempting. Levy is said to be open to covering Rodrygo’s full wages—an eye-watering £208,000 per week—but negotiations hinge on whether Tottenham would agree to a buy option or obligation. Madrid still hope to recoup the player’s full value in the future, but patience may be required until 2026 if no outright purchase is agreed.
From Rodrygo’s perspective, the timing could be ideal. The forward has made no secret of his desire for more consistent minutes, and while he hasn’t publicly pushed for an exit, the Premier League represents both a fresh challenge and an opportunity to showcase his talent in one of the world’s most competitive environments.
Luka Modrić once described Rodrygo as a “superstar in the making,” and Tottenham could provide the stage for him to flourish, especially with the squad crying out for attacking creativity. If Levy can strike a deal, Spurs would not only soften the blow of losing Eze but also land a player with Champions League pedigree and years of development ahead.
The coming days promise to be decisive. Spurs must recover quickly from the sting of Arsenal’s ambush and make a statement in the market. Whether it is Rodrygo, Savinho, or another late arrival, one thing is clear—Tottenham cannot afford another high-profile miss in this transfer window.