Tottenham ready to meet asking price for £55m star, they’re pushing, could hijack PSG – report
As the summer transfer window approaches its climax, Tottenham Hotspur’s technical director Johan Lange operates in his characteristic cloak-and-dagger fashion, working behind the scenes to address multiple squad needs simultaneously.
The North London club faces one of their most pivotal recruitment periods in recent memory, with attacking reinforcements becoming particularly urgent following James Maddison’s confirmed ACL rupture and Son Heung-min’s departure to MLS.
Lange’s reputation for conducting transfer business with minimal media leakage precedes him. Last summer’s surprise move for Wilson Odobert and this window’s near-acquisition of Morgan Gibbs-White demonstrated his preference for operating under the radar.
However, the Gibbs-White collapse now looms large over Tottenham’s plans, with Maddison’s long-term absence exposing the squad’s creative fragility.
| Tottenham’s Top Performers 2024/25 | Avg. Rating |
|---|---|
| Son Heung-min | 7.00 |
| James Maddison | 6.98 |
| Pedro Porro | 6.95 |
| Dominic Solanke | 6.84 |
| Dejan Kulusevski | 6.83 |
The search for attacking solutions has led Tottenham down several paths. Fabrizio Romano confirms the club recently inquired about Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, though Everton’s formal loan approach gives the Toffees an early advantage.
Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott represents another intriguing option after his standout U21 European Championship performances, but Bundesliga clubs like RB Leipzig offer the 21-year-old clearer development pathways.
Defensive reinforcements also feature prominently on Lange’s agenda. Despite boasting four quality center-backs in Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, and newly-permanent Kevin Danso, Spurs remain active in the market for another defender.
Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi has emerged as a primary target, though Paris Saint-Germain currently lead the race for the Ukrainian international.
Zabarnyi Transfer Standoff
- PSG’s latest offer: £52m + solidarity payment
- Bournemouth’s demand: Additional £3m in bonuses
- Tottenham’s position: Monitoring situation closely
- Player preference: PSG move prioritized
The coming weeks will test Lange’s reputation as a transfer market strategist. With attacking creativity and defensive depth both requiring attention, Tottenham’s technical director must navigate:
- The Grealish/Elliott Dilemma – Weighing immediate impact against long-term potential
- Zabarnyi’s PSG Problem – Deciding whether to challenge PSG’s move or identify alternatives
- Post-Maddison Planning – Finding a creative solution that doesn’t compromise January flexibility
Daniel Levy faces his own set of challenges, balancing financial prudence against the urgent need to back new manager Thomas Frank adequately.
The club’s hierarchy recognizes this transitional period represents a crucial opportunity to reshape the squad in Frank’s image, but time is running short to execute their plans effectively.
As deadline day approaches, Tottenham supporters await signs of Lange’s trademark stealth moves materializing.
Whether through a headline-grabbing acquisition or shrewd under-the-radar business, the next fortnight could define Spurs’ season before a ball has even been kicked in anger.
One thing remains certain – in the high-stakes world of Premier League transfers, Johan Lange prefers to let completed deals do the talking rather than media speculation.