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Tottenham Hotspur are determined to complete a deal to sign Eberechi Eze, but Crystal Palace have made their stance clear.
Tottenham Hotspur supporters are following the Eberechi Eze transfer story with fear and dread. Every time a positive news story emerges which seems to suggest Eze is set for a move north of the River Thames, another one drops which indicates the exact opposite.
There have been a few reasons recently to believe Eze could finally be close to joining Spurs. After Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea, Eze shared an emotional moment with the supporters, which could have been his way of bidding them farewell.
Eze has already told his teammates he expects his move to Tottenham to be completed. Better still, Crystal Palace are said to have identified a replacement for Eze, making a deal more likely before the transfer window slams shut.
Crystal Palace are playing hardball with Tottenham over Eberechi Eze
Despite the many factors pointing toward a summer move for Eze, an update from The Mirror has revealed Tottenham may have to wait until the weekend to seal a £60m move for the 27-year-old.
This is because the club’s chairman wants to keep Eze and defender Marc Guehi until after their Conference League campaign has begun.
Also, Crystal Palace are playing hardball over Eze, as well as Guehi, who has been linked with Liverpool. Spurs have been pushing hard to sign Eze, but Palace have made it clear they will remain in charge and dictate over both Eze and Guehi before the end of the window.
Their chairman, Steve Parish, has developed a reputation for being a tough negotiator in a similar way to Tottenham’s Daniel Levy. Therefore, any deal for Eze or Guehi will have to be completed on Palace’s terms.
Still, Spurs remain intent on bringing Eze to the club. They have always rated him as a player, but are more determined than ever to sign him after James Maddison tore his ACL.
Should Spurs have paid Eze’s release clause while it was still active?
If Spurs miss out on Eze, many questions will be asked of the board. Specifically, why was the decision not made to pay his £68m release clause while it was still an option?
However, plenty has changed since then. Tottenham were expected to sign Morgan Gibbs-White, and they were never likely to sign both players. Other factors might have played a part, such as not knowing the full extent of Maddison’s injury, or that Heung-min Son would leave the club.
Tottenham supporters will hope this is a conversation which does not need to take place. Palace may be stubborn, but with Eze favouring a move, that could be enough to sway them and allow him to start a new chapter in his career.
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