Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to make a formal move for Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze, with the England international now a priority target following James Maddison’s long-term injury.
Eze, 27, has been on Spurs’ radar for several years — dating back to his days at Queens Park Rangers — but sources suggest this is the first window in which a concrete approach is likely. Spurs view him primarily as a No.10, and their pursuit is understood to be completely separate from ongoing talks with Manchester City over Brazilian winger Savinho.
The Release Clause Clock
Eze’s current Palace contract contains a £68m release clause that expires on Friday. Tottenham, however, would prefer not to trigger it, instead valuing the forward closer to the £55m fee they paid for Mohammed Kudus earlier in the summer. Palace, who consider Eze one of their most important players, have not yet indicated whether they would engage in talks below the clause figure.
There were reports earlier this week of a £40m bid being rejected, though such claims remain unconfirmed. Spurs are nevertheless optimistic a deal can be struck, and Palace have now been made aware that an opening offer is imminent.
Player’s Stance and Arsenal Threat
Eze is open to the move and keen to play Champions League football while remaining in London — a factor that could favour Spurs over other suitors. Arsenal retain an interest and could still enter the race late in the window, though hesitation exists at the Emirates due to a desire to give 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri more minutes in the No.10 role this season.
Arsenal are also prioritising player sales and could instead turn to a left-wing addition if Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli were to depart. While both are expected to stay, Trossard is seen as the more likely to leave if an offer arrives.
A Palace Legend in the Making
Despite the transfer speculation, Eze has maintained professionalism, continuing to train and feature for Palace. He started in Sunday’s Community Shield triumph over Liverpool, just months after scoring the winner against the same Manchester City in the FA Cup final — his second trophy with the club in quick succession. That strike cemented his place in Palace folklore, regardless of what happens this summer.
Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has urged his old club to pursue Eze, telling reporters:
“If there is enough money, Eze would be a great signing. You’ve got to have depth for the Champions League, FA Cup, and everything else. He’d be the icing on the cake.”
Tottenham’s Midfield Shuffle
Manager Thomas Frank has made it clear he wants a forward, an attacking midfielder, and a central defender before the window closes. Maddison’s ACL injury — which is expected to rule him out for the majority of the season — has forced Spurs to accelerate their plans in midfield.
The club recently failed in a move for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, triggering his release clause only to see Forest block the sale before tying him to a new contract. With that avenue closed, Eze is now the primary target.
If Spurs win the race, it would not only be a coup for Frank but also a significant statement in the transfer market — especially if they beat Arsenal to the player’s signature.