This year proved to be a peculiar season for Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou reportedly guided the team to European success in the Europa League, while also overseeing their poorest Premier League performance in a generation, which supposedly led to his dismissal.
Given this backdrop, it would be reasonable to say that for a significant part of the season, especially in domestic competition, very few players truly stood out for positive reasons.
However, one individual who performed well during the initial phase of the season was Dejan Kulusevski, with his display against Manchester United being a notable example.
Yet, in what seems like a reflection of the club`s desire for a more ruthless approach, reports suggest they are interested in a Premier League player who could potentially be an upgrade on the Swedish international.
Tottenham Transfer Rumours
Before discussing the specific player in question, it`s worth mentioning some other intriguing talents recently linked with Spurs, such as Antoine Semenyo and Xavi Simons.
Semenyo might be available for around £60m this summer, a price that could make him seem like a bargain given his performance this season where he scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in just 42 appearances.
Simons, conversely, is expected to cost a bit more, approximately £65m. However, considering he is only 22, contributed to 19 goals (scoring or assisting) in 33 matches this season, and has been described by one analyst as `one of the best 10s in the world`, this fee might be considered worthwhile.
Nonetheless, when considering a player who could represent an improvement over Kulusevski for the club, attention turns closer to home, specifically to Eberechi Eze.
Indeed, a recent report from journalist Paul O’Keefe indicates that Spurs maintain a strong interest in the Crystal Palace star this summer.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Last Word on Spurs podcast, O`Keefe disclosed that the club `would like to complete that deal` for the Eagles playmaker and that he remains `definitely on their radar`.
However, as other reports this month have clarified, the North London club would need to meet the £68m release clause in Eze`s contract.
While securing this transfer might be expensive and complex, it appears to be a target worth pursuing, even if it could impact Kulusevski`s position.
Comparing Eze and Kulusevski
Firstly, it`s important to note that while Eze is capable of playing on the wing, he has predominantly operated in attacking midfield this season, a role where Kulusevski also excelled this year.
Thus, there`s a distinct possibility that if Tottenham successfully sign Eze this summer, the two players will be competing for playing time next season.
Given this potential competition, how do they compare?
Looking purely at their output from this season, which is arguably the most crucial factor, the `unbelievable` Palace ace, as described by Oliver Glasner, holds the advantage.
For instance, in 43 appearances, accumulating 3303 minutes on the pitch, the English player scored 14 goals – including the winner in the FA Cup – and registered 11 assists. This averages out to a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.
In contrast, the
