The move comes after Arsenal outmaneuvered Spurs to secure Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, leaving the north London club hunting for alternatives.
Sources close to the transfer market revealed Spurs had a deal lined up for Eze, only for Arsenal to capitalize on news of Kai Havertz's knee injury and swoop in with a 67.5 million pound offer. The setback has forced Spurs to pivot, with journalist Frasedr Fletcher reporting that the "door is ajar" for a potential move for Nkunku, a player Tottenham have actively explored in recent days.
Nkunku's time at Chelsea has been plagued by injuries and limited game time, with the 27-year-old starting just nine Premier League matches last season under manager Enzo Maresca. The French forward, who joined the Blues from RB Leipzig for 60 million pounds in 2023, has struggled to find his rhythm at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca hinted at a possible exit for Nkunku, stating, "We'll see. If they find a solution, it's better for them to be happy elsewhere."
Chelsea's willingness to offload Nkunku has sparked interest from multiple clubs, including Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, who are keen on bringing the versatile attacker back to the Bundesliga. However, Spurs see an opportunity to keep Nkunku in the Premier League, with reports suggesting they are prepared to negotiate a loan deal with an option to buy for around 38 million pounds.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have also turned their attention to Como's rising star Nico Paz. The 20-year-old Argentine midfielder, named Serie A's best under-23 player last season, has caught the eye after Spurs' 40 million euro bid was rejected by the Italian club.
Sources indicate Como are holding out for a 60 million euro fee, with Real Madrid, Paz's former club, entitled to 50% of any transfer sum and retaining buy-back options.
The urgency to reinforce their squad stems from a devastating injury to key playmaker James Maddison, who suffered an ACL tear in preseason, ruling him out for most of the 2025-26 campaign. With Son Heung-min also departing for LAFC, Spurs are desperate to add creativity and firepower to their ranks as they prepare for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Fichajes reported that Spurs are readying an 80 million euro offer for Paz to fill the void left by Maddison, though Real Madrid's control clauses could complicate negotiations. The north Londoners are also monitoring Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, Southampton's Tyler Dibling, and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers as alternative targets.
Tottenham's transfer activity has already seen them secure Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for 50 million pounds, but manager Thomas Frank is keen to add more quality to ensure his side remain competitive on multiple fronts.
"We're always looking for players who can make a difference," Frank said earlier this month, emphasizing his ambition to build a dynamic squad.
As the transfer window nears its close, Spurs fans are hopeful their club can pull off a bold move for Nkunku or Paz, turning a frustrating window into a statement of intent for the season ahead.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has voiced serious concerns over the injuries sustained by key players Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard during their dominant 5-0 victory over Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal, Burnley, Bournemouth and Brentford secured wins in Saturday's Premier League action.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Eberechi Eze personally called him to check whether the club was still interested in signing him, just as he was on the verge of completing a move to north London rivals Tottenham.
Arsenal have completed the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, with the player being unveiled at the Emirates Stadium ahead of the Premier League clash against Leeds.
