Tottenham Hotspur is once again at the heart of the transfer market drama.
After enduring a disputed summer when they broke up with Ange Postecoglou and set up Brentford’s Thomas Frank in the dugout, the Spurs wasted time making bold moves in rebuilding their team.
The North London Club began their new Premier League season strongly under new managers, winning 3-0 with Burnley and a stunning Manchester City 2-0 at Etihad.
Such results supported a stable neurological after the 2024/25 league campaign, in which the Spurs finished in low 17th place, even if the Europa League victory via Manchester United offered a route back to the Champions League.
Summer windows are characterized by significant arrivals as well as major departures.
Heung-Min, a fan favorite son who is synonymous with the Spurs over the past decade, has set out for LAFC, but James Madison suffered a devastating ACL injury in the preseason against Newcastle, leaving him out throughout the campaign.
These developments have led to creative voids lying down.
Tottenham quickly moved to secure Mohamed Kudus for £60m from West Ham, but the sense that more reinforcement is needed, especially after both Morgan Gibbs White and Ebeki Eze’s deals collapse in annoying circumstances.
Spurs looking for an alternative to eze
Their attempts to land young talent with star potential are well documented.
The Spurs received a bid of 70 million euros rejected for Como’s NicoPas. Real Madrid still holds a buyback clause and saw Arsenal hijack Eze’s move.
Ambitious attempts from Manchester City to praise Savigno were also rejected, and City was supported by £70 million.
It appears their answer could come from France. There, the exciting young player is described by data analyst Ben Matinson as “silly” in terms of his potential.
The 23-year-old Frenchman, active primarily from the right wing, but showing versatility to play over midfield and offensive, quickly emerged as a viable alternative to Sabigno.
Why Akliouche is the solution for Spurs
His lower prices compared to Savigno and Pass make him an attractive option for the Spurs, especially given the club’s wider squad building needs.
Akliouche broke into Monaco’s first team in 2021 and was a consistent performer for the past two seasons.
Throughout his League One career, he contributed 13 goals and 14 assists, but in his final terms alone he made 32 appearances in the Champions League, including 10.
His rise was not noticed even at the international level, and he scored six caps in France, scoring once.
Akliouche represents a balanced investment. He’s young enough to grow alongside his team, but he’s got enough experience to make an immediate impact in the top-right competition in Europe.
His potential signature is surrounded as an alternative to Tottenham’s Puzz.
The decision to rely on Tottenham’s Akliouche reflects both need and opportunity.
With Madison on the sidelines for the entire season, the club cannot afford to participate in a non-creativity Champions League campaign.
The collapse of Paz, Eze and Gibbs-White’s moves have increased urgency, but the continued pressure from fans has only increased the demand for the statement’s signature.
A comparison between Akliouche and Nico Paz is inevitable. This is inevitable given the parallel interest the Spurs have shown to both players.
2024/25 Season | ||
|---|---|---|
statistics | path | akliouche |
Matches played | 35 | 32 |
start | 30 | 27 |
goal | 6 | 5 |
assist | 8 | 10 |
Progressive Carry | 77 | 127 |
Progressive Pass | 163 | 273 |
Source: FBREF | ||
Statistically, it occupy a similar creative role, but the profile contains subtle differences, which makes Akliouche likely fit more powerfully under Frank.
Akliouche stands out with a blend of creative passes and ball progression. According to FBREF, he ranks in the 86th percentile compared to positionally similar players with assists per 90 (0.30) per European top five leagues, showing his ability to consistently deliver teammates.
His 71st percentile ranking for shot-making action per 90 (4.25) highlights his direct involvement in creating opportunities, while his 89th percentile (4.58 per 90) for progressive passes (6.15 per 90) highlights his ability to break the line with both passing and dribbling.
His defensive contributions should not be overlooked either, and ranks in the 92nd percentile with interceptions about 90 perceptal (0.74), making him more balanced than many of his attacking midfield contemporaries.
In contrast, Paz brings a more direct attack profile. At the age of 20, Argentina has already shown signs of stardom, ranked in the 97th percentile of total shots per 90 (3.68) and the 86th percentile of shot-making action (4.95).
His dribbling abilities are reflected in his 85th percentile (2.34 per 90) for successful take-ons, making it a more goal-oriented option than Akliouche.
However, as Tottenham’s pursuit of the pass has failed, they are looking for a player who combines creativity and maturity.
That balance is why Akliouche’s candidacy is so persuasive. Unlike Sabigno, whose £70 million valuation was considered to be an overkill, Akliouche’s £47.5 million price represents the relative value in today’s market.
More importantly, his statistical profile suggests that he can provide much needed creativity after Madison’s injury, while simultaneously providing tactical flexibility throughout the midfield and the entire offense.
He may not yet have the global recognition of Pass or Savinho, but his combination of technical quality, versatility and productivity makes him a signature that allows him to reconstruct the Spurs’ midfield dynamics.
If the deal was finalized, Tottenham not only secured a Madison replacement in the short term, but could have also acquired the cornerstone of the club’s next era under Frank.
