Tottenham Hotspur’s need for a number ten this summer has become more apparent week after week, with Thomas Frank having to deal with numerous setbacks since taking the reins.
The Dane has seen issues arise in the number ten position over recent weeks, with injuries massively disrupting the plans he would’ve had in place for the ongoing Premier League campaign.
James Maddison would undoubtedly have been the starting player in such a position, but the new manager will be without the Englishman for the vast majority of 2025/26.
He suffered an ACL injury in the pre-season clash with Newcastle United in South Korea, subsequently undergoing surgery, which will rule him out of action for at least six months.
Dejan Kulusevski is another option to fill the void, but like Maddison, he’s also set for a spell on the sidelines – further highlighting the failures of the hierarchy in the transfer market this window.
Spurs’ failure to land a number ten this summer
Morgan Gibbs-White was the first target identified by the Spurs board, even submitting a £60m bid to land the Nottingham Forest star earlier in the window.
A deal rapidly advanced over a short space of time, even seeing the player agree to travel for a medical – but Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis pulled the plug and intercepted a move, leading to the player signing a new deal at the City Ground.
After missing out on the 25-year-old’s signature, the hierarchy turned their attention to Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, entering constant deliberations for his signature.
At one stage, it appeared as though a move would go through, with the player agreeing to join the Lilywhites – but North London rivals Arsenal have swooped in and seemingly got the deal done for the 27-year-old’s signature.
Missing out on both players has undoubtedly fuelled the fanbase’s displeasure towards Daniel Levy, with the owner needing to make a new number ten a priority before the summer deadline.
Spurs’ hunt to land an Eze alternative this summer
After losing out on Eze, Spurs have turned their attention to West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta over recent days, potentially landing a bargain deal for the 27-year-old this window.
It’s been reported that he could be available for as little as £40m this summer, a 50% cut on his asking price from last summer, with the Hammers previously wanting £80m for his signature.
However, he’s not the only attacking midfielder currently on their radar, with Como star Nico Paz another talent they are considering, according to one Spanish outlet.
They claim that Frank’s side are preparing an opening offer to sign the 20-year-old, after he enjoyed a breakthrough year in Serie A throughout 2024/25 – notching 14 combined goals and assists in his 35 outings.
It’s also been reported that his current employers don’t want to sell the Argentine this summer, just one year after he joined from Real Madrid – but may entertain offers around the £60m mark.
Why Spurs’ £60m target is a bigger talent than Eze
Eze is a player who has demonstrated his quality in England’s top-flight on a consistent basis over the last few years, often being a huge threat to countless backlines in the division.
His tally of 16 goal contributions in just 34 outings last campaign highlights the threat he carries, but ultimately, it will be a record the Spurs backline will try and nullify in 2025/26.
Missing out on his signature was a bitter blow in isolation, but the fact that he’s joining the club’s closest rivals has only added to the pain currently being endured by the Lilywhites faithful.
There’s no doubt any deal for the 27-year-old would’ve been a hefty investment, but arguably a risk-free one given the numbers he’s previously produced in the Premier League.
However, Levy and Frank must now work closely on other targets, potentially taking a gamble on Paz to provide the depth and quality the side have been hunting for in the number ten role.
On the face of it, his tally of goals and assists in Italy last season were hugely impressive, but it needs to be remembered that it was his first full season as a regular starter in Europe’s top-five leagues.
The flipside would see the Lilywhites land an extremely talented youngster, who has bags of time to build on his excellent start to his career, given his tender age.
He’s already managed to outperform Eze in numerous key areas throughout 2024/25, with multiple of his underlying figures better than those of the soon-to-be Arsenal man.
Paz, who possesses “immense potential” according to Jacek Kulig, posted a better shot on target rate, arguably being more of a threat than the Englishman when bearing down on goal.
Games played
35
34
Goals & assists
14
16
Shot on target accuracy
34%
27%
Progressive passes
5.3
3.3
Pass accuracy
81%
74%
Passes into final third
3.9
1.7
Progressive carries
2.6
2.4
Take-on success
51%
48%
Carries into final third
2.1
1.6
However, his main responsibility as a number ten is undoubtedly creating chances for those around him – something which the Argentine has done in abundance in recent months.
He completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst more of his efforts were into the final third, handing the likes of Richarlison and Brennan Johnson to build on their goal tallies this campaign.
The youngster’s dominance over Eze is further highlighted in his higher take-on success rate – able to drive into dangerous areas before providing the final touches – as seen by his aforementioned figures.
£60m may appear to be a mammoth sum for a player who is largely inexperienced and may prove to be a gamble, but a new signing in that area is a must during the closing stages of the window.
If he can build on his impressive start to his career in North London, the move could potentially be a bargain – massively softening the blow of missing out on Eze’s signature.
