The January transfer window is famously a period of high-stakes gambling and frantic negotiations, but for Tottenham Hotspur, the final days of the market have taken on a life of their own. Fresh off a vital victory that secured their place in the Champions League last 16, the club is now reportedly entangled in a dramatic transfer triangle.
Thomas Frank’s side is believed to be actively working to hijack Nottingham Forest’s move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. This move comes at a time when Spurs are desperately searching for a spark to reignite a domestic season that has, quite frankly, been a struggle to watch for the North London faithful.
While Tottenham has found a strange kind of comfort on the European stage winning all four of their home fixtures in the Champions League this season their Premier League form tells a much darker story.
Currently languishing in 14th place and sitting only eight points above the relegation zone, the team has looked like a shadow of its former self in the league. At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they have managed only two victories in twelve attempts.
This contrast between continental dominance and domestic decay has put immense pressure on Thomas Frank to find an immediate solution. The recent win against Eintracht Frankfurt offered a brief respite, but the hero of that night, Randal Kolo Muani, may inadvertently be the reason for the club’s current transfer headache.
Kolo Muani’s decisive goal in that European clash, coming just over a minute after the halftime break, was a reminder of the Frenchman’s undeniable talent. However, that very performance has complicated a brewing situation with Juventus.
The Italian giants have intensified their pursuit of the striker, with director Giorgio Chiellini openly admiring the player’s previous contributions during a loan spell in Turin. While Juventus is pushing for a straightforward loan deal to bring Kolo Muani back to Italy, reports from journalists like Gianluca Di Marzio suggest that his midweek heroics have made Spurs very reluctant to let him go.
On the other hand, sources in Spain claim that the player has already informed the club of his desire to return to Juve. This leaves Tottenham in a precarious position: they have an unhappy star who is currently one of their most effective players.
This is where the interest in Jean-Philippe Mateta enters the frame. To facilitate Kolo Muani’s departure and ensure the squad isn’t left thin, Spurs appear ready to swoop in and snatch Mateta away from Nottingham Forest.
Forest has been in well-documented talks with Crystal Palace for weeks, desperate to add more firepower to their own front line. But Tottenham’s late entry into the race could change everything. Italian reporter Orazio Accomando has indicated that Spurs are “working to close” a deal for the Palace forward, viewing him as the ideal replacement should the Kolo Muani situation result in a transfer to Turin.
Mateta is a fascinating prospect for a team in Tottenham’s position. At 28 years old, he is a player at the absolute peak of his powers. The statistics surrounding his recent form are nothing short of elite. Since Oliver Glasner took the reins at Crystal Palace, Mateta has been one of the most clinical finishers in English football.
In fact, by late 2025, data showed that he was outscoring every other player in the Premier League with the sole exceptions of Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah. That is incredible company to keep, and it highlights why high-profile analysts have likened his “extraordinary” movement and power to that of the original Brazilian Ronaldo during his prime.
For Thomas Frank, Mateta offers a tactical profile that the current squad lacks. While Dominic Solanke and Richarlison are talented, Mateta brings a unique level of aerial prowess and raw physical presence.
He is the kind of striker who can bully a defensive line and provide a focal point when a team is struggling to break down a low block a problem Spurs have faced repeatedly this season. With Richarlison’s future at the club looking increasingly uncertain, securing a player of Mateta’s physical stature and proven goal-scoring record seems like a logical move to stabilize the season.
However, the move is not without its risks. Crystal Palace has reportedly placed a £40 million price tag on their star man. For a player who will turn 29 this year, that represents a massive financial outlay with very little chance of future resale value.
It is a “win-now” signing for a club that is currently fighting just to stay in the top half of the table. Furthermore, Nottingham Forest will not give up easily. They are in desperate need of a striker to secure their own Premier League status and have already laid a significant amount of groundwork in their negotiations with Palace.
The final days of the window will likely be a test of resolve for the ENIC Group and the Tottenham recruitment team. They must decide if the £40 million investment in Mateta is worth the gamble to save their season and satisfy the fans.
If they succeed in the hijack, it would be a major statement of intent and a vital reinforcement for the knockout rounds of the Champions League. If they fail, they risk losing Kolo Muani to Juventus without a replacement, leaving Thomas Frank with even fewer options to turn around their domestic slump.
As the clock ticks toward the Monday deadline, all eyes are on North London to see if Spurs can pull off one of the biggest moves of the winter.
