In the end, Tottenham Hotspur’s failure to sign Eberechi Eze may not sting most for the supporters who have seen this story before, or even for Daniel Levy, whose stewardship will again come under fire. The one left grappling with the consequences is Thomas Frank, handed the task of guiding Spurs into the new season without a fit, creative midfielder. James Maddison’s knee injury three weeks ago and Dejan Kulusevski’s surgery back in May have left the side desperately short in a pivotal area, and the gap has not been filled.
Frank’s challenge is formidable. The stated ambition for his first year at Tottenham was to compete on all four fronts. Yet the squad available to him as the season begins is weaker than the one Ange Postecoglou managed at the end of last year â€" a campaign that fizzled out with a run of injuries and frustrations across competitions.
Eze was always going to be a complicated pursuit. His release clause required significant payments spread over two summers, while Spurs’ fractious transfer history with Crystal Palace made negotiations more delicate still. Only one permanent deal has been struck between the two clubs in nearly two decades. Add to this Eze’s long-held affection for Arsenal â€" the boyhood club where he trained until being released at 13 â€" and Tottenham were forever fighting uphill. A resurfaced video clip of a young Eze professing his admiration for Thierry Henry served as a reminder of loyalties that run deeper than contracts.
Tottenham kept tabs on him but cooled their interest once Arsenal explored a deal in July. Instead, the club pivoted to Morgan Gibbs-White, only to be stung when he signed a new contract at Nottingham Forest. When Arsenal appeared to step back from Eze later in the window, Spurs reopened discussions with Palace. By Wednesday morning of this week, personal terms were agreed and a fee settled, giving Tottenham hope that a decisive breakthrough had been made.
But Palace delayed. Oliver Glasner wanted Eze available for a crucial Conference League qualifier. By that afternoon, Arsenal’s Tim Lewis had phoned Steve Parish, and the North London rivals swooped. Spurs’ fears were realised as Eze instantly chose red over white. Kai Havertz’s knee injury may have accelerated Arsenal’s move, but in truth, the groundwork had been laid long before. Tottenham’s negotiations with Palace only made it easier for Arsenal to strike when it mattered.
Tottenham will feel hard done by, but the truth is their delay was costly. Maddison’s injury in early August, Gibbs-White’s new deal in late July, and Kulusevski’s absence since May each presented chances for Tottenham to act decisively. Instead, the club hesitated, tweaking details and stretching talks while the door remained ajar for Arsenal. The final price â€" £67.5 million â€" was almost identical to the release clause Spurs had baulked at a year ago.
Supporters’ frustration stems not only from losing Eze but from the pattern it represents. Gibbs-White is just the latest name added to a list of near-misses. Too often, Spurs have been slow in the market, dithering while rivals act with purpose. When the elite clubs identify a solution, they move swiftly. Tottenham’s hesitation continues to cost them.
With less than two weeks left in the window, the question is how Spurs respond. Champions League football looms, and Frank remains short in attacking areas. The club has spent less than all of the traditional “big six†this summer, as well as Newcastle, Sunderland and Forest. Their only first-team reinforcements so far are Mohammed Kudus for £55 million from West Ham, Joao Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich, and 20-year-old defender Kota Takai.
Targets remain, but none are straightforward. Nico Paz is admired but tied to Real Madrid, who retain a cheap buy-back clause. Morgan Rogers would be a statement signing, though Aston Villa are reluctant sellers. Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche and City’s Savinho are also on the radar, but both would command fees close to Eze’s. The danger is obvious: in trying to compensate for missing out on Eze, Spurs could overspend on a player who does not fit the long-term vision.
For Frank, the responsibility is already shifting toward improvisation. Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall have been trialled in advanced roles, though both are more comfortable deeper. Kudus could move centrally, having once seen himself as a midfielder, but impressed on the right wing against Burnley. Frank may be forced to adjust stylistically, building control in midfield while relying on a front line featuring Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, and Mathys Tel to unlock opponents.
This is not the ideal start for a new coach. Frank was hired in part for his adaptability, his ability to coax more from players than expected. But such qualities are best applied gradually, not demanded immediately. Instead, his early months are set to be defined by shortages in key areas and an atmosphere of unease among fans.
The Europa League final in May now feels distant, almost irrelevant to the mood around Tottenham. The summer was supposed to deliver fresh energy, new faces, and belief in a new era. Instead, the club has stumbled again in the market, missing the chance to secure a proven Premier League creator who had been on their radar for years.
It is Thomas Frank, rather than Daniel Levy, who must now carry the burden. Spurs have once more fallen short in the transfer window, and it is their head coach who must find solutions on the pitch while rivals strengthen. The concern among supporters is not simply losing out on Eze; it is that Tottenham seem destined to repeat the same mistakes, slow where others are swift, reactive where rivals are bold.
The outcome of this window will not define Frank’s time at Spurs, but it has denied him the immediate momentum every new manager craves. He has inherited not only a squad in transition but also the legacy of hesitation that continues to undermine Tottenham’s ambitions. Arsenal’s intervention may have proved a decisive moment in the Eze matter â€" but it was Spurs’ indecision that left the door open in the first place.