Tottenham have suffered a blow in the pursuit of a talented creative midfielder.
It is vital for Tottenham Hotspur to finish the summer transfer window strongly. There are several glaring issues within the squad that must be addressed in the coming weeks. Chief among them is the absence of a creative midfielder capable of influencing the play in the final third.
James Maddison hasn’t featured in the pre-season games thus far, as Roberto De Zerbi manages his fitness after the playmaker returned from ACL injury at the back end of last season. So, there remains concerns over Maddison’s fitness, while Dejan Kulusevski spent the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign on the sidelines following several setbacks from knee injury.
As Maddison and Kulusevski cannot be relied upon, Roberto De Zerbi is in search of a creative player who can be the glue between midfield and attack.
Recent reports suggested that the North Londoners were keeping tabs on Real Madrid talent Franco Mastantuono. The teenager arrived at Real Madrid last summer in a deal worth €45 million following a meteoric rise at River Plate.
During his first campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu, he was in and out of the starting XI under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa. Yet, he ended up with 35 appearances in all competitions. Following the arrival of Bernardo Silva, Real Madrid decided to loan out Franco Mastantuono and Spurs were keen to bring him on a temporary deal.
Spurs, however, have fallen short in their pursuit of the teenage prodigy. Fiorentina have announced the capture of Mastantuono on a season-long loan from Real Madrid on Friday afternoon.
The deal is strictly temporary, with no option or obligation to buy, allowing the Argentine international to gain valuable experience in a major European league after his first full season in Spain. Real Madrid believe that a season as a regular starter in Florence will be more beneficial for his growth than a rotational role under new boss Jose Mourinho.
Missing out on Mastantuono’s signature is a setback for De Zerbi. The teenager could have been a fine option to operate in attacking areas of the pitch and provide creativity to unlock the opposition’s defence. He can play through the middle as a No.10 and on the flanks, meaning the South American could have provided cover and depth for De Zerbi’s side.
With Fiorentina having signed Mastantuono on loan, Spurs should now shift their focus elsewhere if they are serious about strengthening their attacking ranks.