Spurs intensify talks over £59m deal to replace Kudus

Just over six months after his heroics in Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League final win, Brennan Johnson, who signed for Crystal Palace in a £35m deal earlier this month, is looking for pastures new alongside Ange Postecoglou.

The Wales international was the top scorer in all competitions last season but had fallen down the table under new manager Thomas Frank, so it was thought now was the Lilywhites’ chance.

What followed may be emblematic of the north London side’s recent woes, with Mohamed Kudus, who had displaced Johnson from his right-wing position, limping off just 19 minutes into Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.

Unfortunately, subsequent scan results revealed that the Ghanaian’s setback may be worse than expected, ensuring that Frank and co are likely to be forced into the market with just a few weeks remaining.

Signing a valuable player midway through the season is a difficult task, but reports suggest Spurs are moving towards finding the perfect replacement for Kudus.

Latest news on Spurs signing Kudus replacement this month

It wasn’t perfect, but the former West Ham United man really shined during a tough season in N17, scoring nine goals and assisting in his first 26 games for the club.

It has been quietly whispered about, but his performances so far are reminiscent of Gareth Bale, who is in top form, with his occasional cuts down the right flank to devastating effect.

Currently scheduled to be out of action until April, the loss of Qudus has left a huge hole for north Londoners to fill, and efforts are underway to fill it this month.

Spurs and their top-flight rivals are set to go head-to-head for Manchester City’s Omar Marmouche, with both clubs ready to increase their interest in the Egyptian star, according to WinWin.

Indeed, reports suggest that both clubs are keen to intensify negotiations with the 26-year-old once he returns from AFCON duty, with a loan move believed to be a target.

The article adds that Marmouche’s priority is to remain in Manchester, but the recent capture of Antoine Semenho could change his situation, with Marmouche’s representatives set to hold important negotiations with manager Josep Guardiola’s side.

A Marmouche like Kane would be a dream for Spurs.

As mentioned earlier, Kudus is showing signs of becoming the new talismanic figure at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but he still has work to do if he is to approach the status and influence of club record goalscorer Harry Kane.

The Lilywhites especially waited a year to sign a true centre-forward replacement for the England captain, but since returning in 2024 Dominic Solanke has been plagued by injuries, scoring just 16 goals in 48 competitive games.

Marmouche, who is only in his first year at the Etihad, could become the long-awaited successor to Kane, who Spurs have been keen to replace, with the 32-year-old having been one of the Bundesliga’s brightest players in recent seasons.

Marmouche, who is comfortable playing in either a central or flanking role and would be perfect to plug in in Kudus’ absence, joined Guardiola’s team in a £59m deal in January 2025 after a prolific spell at Eintracht Frankfurt.

In just 67 appearances for Germany, he scored 37 goals and provided a further 20 assists in all competitions, and was hailed as a true “entertainer” by analyst and scout Ben Mattinson during his productive years at Frankfurt.

As FBref pointed out, the £295,000-a-week speedster was considered to be the closest Bundesliga forward to Kane in 2023/24 and 2024/25, both statistically and stylistically.

In his final six months in Germany, Marmouche was particularly destructive, averaging 0.81 non-penalty goals per 90, better than Kane’s 0.64 on his return.

The two former Spurs players are clinical rivals and are very similar in terms of finishing, both extremely deadly with both feet and from long range.

These traits were noted by the aforementioned Mattinson, who described him as a “poacher in the box” and an “instinctual finisher” who “can finish with either foot”.

Like Kane, there is real bounce and power to his ball-striking, even if there is little backlift, a fact that was already highlighted in Manchester with a long-range shot against Bournemouth at the end of last season.

We don’t see enough magical moments like this in City yet. Considering he has played primarily on the periphery so far, starting just 24 games in total, he has scored just nine goals in 40 games.

A change of scenery may be what is needed to bring back a talent like Kane, and Marmouche could be the perfect fit at Tottenham’s time of need.