Tottenham Enter Talks with Eberechi Eze as Arsenal Transfer Race Heats Up

Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their pursuit of Eberechi Eze, holding talks with the Crystal Palace star as they try to beat Arsenal to his signature.

The 27-year-old England international is a long-term Spurs target and has re-emerged on their shortlist after James Maddison’s ACL injury left new manager Thomas Frank short of creativity in midfield.

Eberechi Eze Transfer News: Tottenham and Arsenal Battle for Signature

Eze’s £68 million release clause expires on Friday, so there’s a sense of urgency for any club hoping to secure his services at that price.

Arsenal have been leading the race for much of the summer, but they’re yet to submit an official bid — due to needing to sell players like Leandro Trossard first — has allowed Spurs to move in.

Frank’s side can offer Champions League football after winning the Europa League last season, and they are also working on a separate transfer for Manchester City winger Savinho.

Arsenal remain Eze’s preferred destination, but the delay in their approach could hand Tottenham a pivotal advantage.

Why Eberechi Eze is in High Demand

Eze has become one of the Premier League’s most dangerous attacking midfielders since joining Palace from Queens Park Rangers in 2020 for a fee worth up to £19.5m.

His close control, dribbling, and ability to unlock deep defences have drawn praise from managers across the league. He scored the winning goal in last season’s FA Cup final and was a key figure in Palace’s push to mid-table safety.

With England’s 2026 World Cup campaign on the horizon, Eze is eager to stay in the spotlight at the highest level.

Palace are reluctant to sell, particularly as they are already open to a sale for Liverpool target Marc Guehi, but the South London club could be forced to act if a club meets Eze’s clause before it expires.

QPR would receive 15% of any profit Palace make on the deal.

What’s Stopping Arsenal from Signing Eze?

The Gunners have already spent close to £200m this summer, bringing in Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Cristian Norgaard, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

However, to fund a move for Eze, they need to sell fringe players, including Trossard, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, and potentially Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Mikel Arteta sees Eze as a solution to last season’s creative shortcomings against deep-lying defences — a weakness that cost Arsenal crucial points in the title race.

With the release clause deadline coming up, Spurs and Arsenal are both under pressure to make an approach.

Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs, with Vincent Kompany keen to add a creative playmaker after missing out on Florian Wirtz.

If Spurs can act faster than Arsenal, Eze could be the latest high-profile arrival in a summer where Tottenham have already been aggressive in the market.