Not many Tottenham fans would’ve woken up on Wednesday morning thinking that, by the time they went to bed that night, Eberechi Eze would not be primed to become a Spurs player. It seemed, to all intents and purposes, like a deal was done and that the England international would be swapping Selhurst Park for North London. And while that statement remains true, it’s not in the way one would’ve imagined.
An injury to Kai Havertz seemed to force Mikel Arteta’s hand, and Arsenal went straight in under their biggest rival’s noses. Out of nowhere, Eze was set to become a Gunner. A setback, no doubt, for Thomas Frank, as a James Maddison replacement is still a must, and Eze appeared to be the best option. Nevertheless, a regrouping is now in order and new options have to be evaluated.
As for who those players could be, there are a number of options. But three names that keep getting repeated are Bilal El Khannouss, Morgan Rogers and Tyler Dibling. And realistically, there’s only one man Spurs should be targeting.
Morgan Rogers
Morgan Rogers in action for Aston Villa
On the surface, Morgan Rogers may immediately be the most attractive option of the three names when you look at what he has already proven capable of in the Premier League. The PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season brings with him more goal involvements over the last 12 months than Eze, despite being three years his junior.
If he continues in similar form, there is no doubt that clubs with a bigger stature than Aston Villa—who are already an English giant—will come calling. And having been publicly humiliated in their pursuit of Eze, there are some suggestions that Spurs may just bite the bullet and go big for Rogers.
The issue is, while Rogers may be the most like-for-like replacement for Eze and the injured Maddison, testing Villa's resolve couldn't have come at a worse time. Unai Emery would likely be unwilling to give away such a prized asset as it is, but after earning big money from the sale of Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle, Villa absolutely do not need to sell—and the financial package Spurs would have to part with is most certainly going to need to be extortionate.
Bilal El Khannouss
Bilal El Khannouss in action for Leicester City
A number 10 who can also play off the left, Bilal El Khannouss may provide a bit more versatility in covering multiple positions in attack. And given that, as well as Maddison being out, Spurs have also lost Son Heung-min on the left-hand side, having someone who could cover both roles wouldn’t hurt in case an injury crisis crops up.
The Moroccan international got a taste of Premier League football at Leicester and, despite being in one of the worst teams in the division, starred at times. Just two goals and three assists may not sound impressive, but you have to consider the state of the Foxes as a whole. Now in the Championship, he already has two assists and is continuing to show signs of fulfilling his potential.
However, the last thing Spurs need to do right now is enter talks for a player who is seemingly going elsewhere. Palace have earmarked the 21-year-old as Eze’s replacement. And while Spurs may be the bigger name, the risk is that they fall flat on their face again and miss out on another target, considering how deep Palace’s claws appear to be.
Tyler Dibling
Tyler Dibling in action for Southampton
If we start with the main con about Tyler Dibling, it’s that, in truth, the teenager is an out-and-out winger. Eze isn’t, Rogers isn’t, El Khannouss isn’t. So with that knowledge, you might sit and think he isn’t what Spurs need at all. However, at such a young age, there is moulding that could be done by a manager like Thomas Frank, who knows how to get the best out of young players.
Dibling was the one shining light in what was a dire season for Southampton last term. Unsurprisingly, he has plenty of suitors, with Everton having bids rejected. However, for all the talk, no one is truly close to making a deal happen, which almost allows Tottenham free rein to go in and snap up one of the most promising English talents in the modern game for a relatively respectable fee, expected to be less than £50 million.