The clock is ticking in North London, and the pressure is mounting on Tottenham Hotspur to deliver a final flourish before the transfer window slams shut. While the club has already managed to secure the services of Conor Gallagher and Souza this month, the glaring absence of a fresh attacking threat remains a point of contention among the Spurs faithful.
With only a few days remaining, it appears the club is gearing up for one last push, but the cost of procrastination is proving to be incredibly high.
The primary name swirling around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is Maghnes Akliouche. The 23-year-old Monaco playmaker is far from a last-minute discovery; reports suggest that Tottenham’s scouting department has been meticulously tracking his progress since September.
They have done the heavy lifting monitoring his form in Ligue 1, analyzing his fit within the squad, and mapping out the financial requirements. Yet, despite this extensive preparation, the club has hesitated to make a formal approach.
This delay has placed them in a vulnerable negotiating position, as Monaco is under no pressure to sell their prize asset so late in the month.
In the world of high-stakes football transfers, timing is everything. Because Tottenham has waited until the “dying stages” of the window, the price tag for Akliouche has reportedly bloated to an inflated £50 million.
From Monaco’s perspective, losing a key creative player with almost no time to find a replacement is a nightmare scenario, meaning only an “over-the-top” offer will convince them to pick up the phone. For Spurs, this is the classic “late-window tax.” What might have been a straightforward deal weeks ago has now transformed into a high-priced gamble.
The situation is further complicated by the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the managerial dugout. Thomas Frank has publicly stated that the club remains active in the market, but his own long-term future at the club has become a subject of intense speculation.
This creates a difficult paradox for the Tottenham hierarchy. On one hand, they want to support their manager by bringing in the “exciting attacking addition” he desires. On the other hand, they are wary of spending a fortune on a player specifically requested by a coach who might not be there to lead the team next season.
This hesitation has already cost them elsewhere. Earlier in the month, Spurs reportedly looked into deals for players like Savinho, Kevin Schade, and Antoine Semenyo.
These were all targets that Frank was keen on, yet none of those moves materialized. The board finds itself stuck between two worlds: wanting to be ambitious and back the current project, while also fearing they might be left with expensive players who don’t fit the vision of a potential successor.
Maghnes Akliouche is undeniably the kind of talent that gets fans off their seats. His technical ability and vision make him one of the more clinical young attackers in France. However, the question for Tottenham is whether they are willing to pay a premium just to fix a problem they could have addressed weeks ago.
If they decide to pull the trigger on a £50 million deal, it will be a massive statement of intent, but it also carries the risk of being an expensive mistake if the managerial situation isn’t resolved quickly.
As Monday’s deadline approaches, the tension is palpable. The supporters are desperate for a signing that injects some life into the final third of the pitch, but the board must weigh the excitement of a new signing against the harsh reality of an inflated market and a volatile internal environment.
Whether they choose to pay the “Akliouche tax” or keep their hands in their pockets, the next few days will likely define the trajectory of Tottenham’s season.
