Arsenal have once again outmanoeuvred Tottenham in the transfer market, this time with a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze. Spurs were on the brink of securing a deal for the England international, which would have been a significant coup for Thomas Frank’s side.
Yet Arsenal were unwilling to allow Eze to head to their north London rivals without intervening, and now the 27-year-old looks set to seal a switch to the Emirates Stadium instead. Spurs are left scratching their heads, while Arsenal appear to have landed a long-term target. Still, the Gunners’ hijack wasn’t as rapid as it appeared. Sporting director Andrea Berta had already finalised the framework of a deal back on August 10, according to The Independent. The agreement, however, was kept quiet, to the point that word was put out that Arsenal needed to sell players first, and that they were prioritising a left winger over Eze – a smokescreen, of sorts, that gave Tottenham the impression they could take their time.
Arsenal’s pursuit of the Palace star was essentially put on ice. That hesitation gave Tottenham their opening. They were quickly installed as favourites and eventually struck an agreement with Palace and the player on Wednesday after a string of tense talks.
Eze himself was keen, though the intention has always been for him to first play in Palace’s Europa Conference League clash with Fredrikstad on Thursday. However, Kai Havertz’s injury changed Arsenal’s approach and forced them into immediate action, allowing them to overtake Spurs’ bid.
Levy had pieced together an offer of £50million plus £10m in bonuses, but Arsenal countered with £60m plus £7.5m. Stronger ties between Steve Parish and Arsenal vice-chairman Tim Lewis also pushed the Gunners ahead in negotiations.
The two executives are in much closer contact than Parish is with Levy, and the possibility of further business – Palace are monitoring Jakub Kiwior – boosted Arsenal’s chances.
Eze himself, however, had supposedly been excited by the prospect of playing for Spurs, despite being a boyhood Arsenal fan. Released by the Gunners as a teenager, he had previously spoken of his dream to wear their shirt one day.
With Arsenal slow to commit, he assumed that wish would fade. He even held talks with Parish to find a resolution but got nowhere. Only on Wednesday did Arsenal finally leapfrog Spurs.
Although Tottenham haven’t formally pulled out, all signs now suggest that Eze is bound for the Emirates – a development that heaps yet more pressure on Levy. He has already seen Morgan Gibbs-White slip through his fingers after the midfielder came close to leaving Nottingham Forest, only to sign a new deal in a late twist.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s pursuit of Manchester City winger Savinho has stalled completely. Compounding matters, James Maddison’s ACL injury has left Spurs short in attacking areas, and the club’s sluggish response to filling that void – especially when contrasted with Arsenal’s swift move for reinforcements after Havertz’s setback – has intensified the scrutiny.
Missing out on Eze, though, would sting regardless of the context. Arsenal look poised to secure a gifted, ambitious player who has forced through his dream move, while Tottenham are once again left scrambling in his wake.