Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on acquiring Chelsea’s forward Nicolas Jackson, following a missed opportunity to secure Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who opted to join Arsenal.
Spurs are keen on bolstering their attacking options, especially after losing two key contributors from last season. Son Heung-min, who played a part in 23 goals across all competitions, has taken his talents to LAFC, whereas playmaker James Maddison is sidelined with an injury. Both players were pivotal in the previous campaign, each tallying 23 goal involvements.
Eberechi Eze was viewed as the ideal fit for Tottenham, with his versatility as both an attacking midfielder and winger addressing the gaps left by Son and Maddison. However, Arsenal swooped in to finalise a deal on Wednesday, leaving Spurs in a desperate hunt for alternatives.
The attention has now shifted towards Chelsea, with reports suggesting Spurs are “interested in” bringing Nicolas Jackson to north London. Tottenham have reportedly “made contact with Jackson in case Richarlison departs.”
The prospective sale of Richarlison, who netted twice during the season’s opening weekend for Spurs, could potentially generate the €60-70million (£51.9-£60.6m) required to facilitate a move for Jackson.
Although one might speculate if Tottenham truly need to liquidate assets to fund Jackson’s acquisition—given that they were on the brink of a £67.5million deal for Eze—Jackson’s price is rumoured to be somewhat less, around £60million. Any necessary fundraising measures shouldn’t be too burdensome.
Meanwhile, the Chelsea forward has also caught the attention of Aston Villa and Newcastle.
As it stands, the likelihood of Richarlison’s exit from Tottenham seems to have dwindled. Speculations about his potential availability earlier this summer have largely subsided. Furthermore, Richarlison demonstrated his importance by being preferred over Dominic Solanke against Burnley, rewarding manager Thomas Frank’s trust with two spectacular goals, including an impressive bicycle kick, which signals his current form and confidence.
It’s clear Tottenham were seriously entertaining a move for Eze, but Arsenal’s late intervention has reshaped their strategy, possibly paving the way for Nicolas Jackson’s arrival pending the right conditions.
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