The summer reconstruction of Tottenham Hotspur was dramatic.
Last season, the Europa League victory via Manchester United dropped to 17th place on the rifts of the domestic campaign.
Ange Postecoglou was quickly replaced by Thomas Frank, the decision to split the fanbase.
The arrival of Mohamed Kudus from West Ham and the return of Champions League football added a new optimism, but there remains a clear gap for the team. It’s the last third of creativity.
As James Maddison walked by the season after an ACL injury, there are no players in the Spurs midfield who can evoke anything from nothing.
Spurs’ creative solutions
The North London side has identified two names to address the issue. Savinho of Manchester City and forwards who were on the radar of Arsenal, City and several European giants.
Both are open to movement, but the Spurs are said to be particularly confident in hitting the latter deal, a player over £60 million that quickly converts offensive profiles.
In fact, according to TBR Football, Crystal Palace’s Ebekieze has emerged as Tottenham’s number one target.
Personal terms have already been reportedly agreed, but the palace doesn’t let him go easily.
They are asking for fees between £55 million and £60 million, but Spurs is confident they can close the deal before the windows close. The 27-year-old’s desire to participate is simply to strengthen his hands.
This feels like it’s nearing completion as journalist Ben Jacobs reported that it was “almost agreed” last Friday.
Nonetheless, he was still featured in the Eagles’ top flight opener against Chelsea.
His Prime Similarities to Dele Alli
After litting the Palace’s Premier League and registering for England at Euro 2024, Eze is ready for the next step in his career.
His ability to slide past defenders, create magical moments, and deliver in high stakes matches, including winning the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, has made him one of the division’s most attractive talents.
In many ways, Eze offers the Spurs something they’ve missed since Deleary’s departure.
When Tottenham fans recall the golden age of recent years, Dere Ally is a name that comes to mind.
Signed by MK Don in 2015 for just £5 million, he has become one of the most exciting young players in world football.
Alli scored 69 goals, supported more than 59 times in the Spurs’ 269 appearances, won the PFA Young Player of the Year Awards, and played a key role in the club’s running in the 2019 Champions League final.
At his peak, Alli was valued at £900 million by TransferMarkt. He was known for ending with calmness and creating outrageous skills.
His career has since been derailed by off-field problems and contradictions – with spells at Everton, Besictus and Como – few Spurs have forgotten the joy he brought under Mauricio Pockettino.
The similarity with Eze is not only clear in style but also in data.
Career statistics comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
metric | Ally | eze |
Matches played | 282 | 271 |
start | 230 | 228 |
the goal | 74 | 59 |
assist | 44 | 34 |
Target shot | 185 | 189 |
Photographed with target percentage | 40.3% | 38.5% |
Passing completion rate | 77.0% | 78.9% |
Source: FBREF | ||
According to FBREF, Dele regularly averaged two shots per 90 in a breakout year, becoming one of Europe’s most attacking midfielders.
Dere has scored double digits in the league for three consecutive seasons, but Eze is in the 82nd percentile of shot-making action (4.69), leading others to play as long as they try to finish their chances on their own.
Eze’s dribbling numbers are also outstanding. His 86th percentile take-on (2.33 per 90) reflects the free dere that was displayed as he carried the ball past the defender in a tight space.
But perhaps the most impressive is that Eze Couple attacks Flair with a defensive work rate, ranked in the 89th percentile of ball recovery (5.08 per 90).
This balance makes him even more suited to modern games than Dere was at his peak.
But it is the intangible element that truly links them. In other words, it is the ability to create magic from nothing.
Spurs fans remember Ally’s flicks and volleys in 2016 as Crystal Palace as symbols of his spontaneity.
Eze carries the same aura, determining matches often out of reach, with his solo run and massive strikes for the palace.
The overhaul of the Tottenham team is extensive. Kudus brings goals, but if Savinho arrives, he adds width and pace.
However, it doesn’t fit at all the type of players who direct the rhythm of play in the final third.
With Madison excluded, the reliance on structured build-up allowed us to see the Spurs become predictable, especially for teams sitting deep. Eze offers antidotes, including directness, ingenuity and fearless approaches.
At 27, he enters Prime Year, combining the best football experience with the hunger of a player keen to prove himself at his greatest stage.
Crystal Palace is reluctant to sell, but the financial strength offered by Spurs and Champions League football are attractive to both the club and the players.
If the deal goes, Eze could become the face of the new Tottenham era, the creative leader of Dere’s mold, but with his own unique brand flare.