Spurs sign star player for £34m in inter-club negotiations

People at the London Stadium must be fed up with the sight of Tottenham Hotspur. The Lilywhites look set to once again assault their city rivals for the second consecutive summer.

A year ago, the north London outfit poached Mohamed Kudus from West Ham United in a £55m deal, and the club joined Manchester United in the race to sign current Hammers star Matheus Fernandes.

Roberto de Zerbi is said to be keen to sign a Portuguese playmaker as well as Sandro Tonali, despite already having two talented young midfield players in Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Fernandes, who is still only 21, appears to have emerged as new manager De Zerbi’s top priority, but he is not the only exciting target on this summer’s agenda.

Spurs are already in club-to-club negotiations to sign a replacement for Fernandes.

As reported this week, Spurs have made a call about a potential move for Fernandes, with the former Southampton man looking set to make a move following West Ham’s recent relegation.

The east London side reportedly need to raise £150m following their drop to the second division, and Fernandes is certain to receive as much as £80m.

This is a huge benefit for a player who was signed for nearly £40m just a year ago, but Spurs are likely to have cheaper alternatives in mind as well.

According to TEAMtalk, Belgian sensation Nathan de Cat is among the players being considered, with Tottenham said to be one of their “most active suitors” alongside the likes of Man United.

According to the newspaper, ENIC have already begun talks ahead of a potential move with De Cat’s current team, Anderlecht, and have already scouted the teenager “extensively”.

Still only 17 years old, the rising talent could command a transfer fee of around 40 million euros (approximately £34 million), which would be the club’s highest ever fee for the Belgian professional league side.

Why De Cat is a better talent than Fernandes

As mentioned, Spurs are no strangers to making exciting long-term midfield deals these days, with Gray and Bergvall already set to join their ranks in 2024.

Both Fernandes and De Cato would fit the bill, but it may be the latter who represents the bigger coup. Journalist Bence Boksak hailed him as “one of the best young midfielders in Europe right now”.

This is coming from a player who is only 17 and four years younger than the West Ham player, but De Katt has just completed an incredible season in his homeland.

Although he made his debut in the 2024/25 season and scored one goal in six league games, the £34m-rated star has had a much more sustained run than last time out, starting 34 professional league games.

In this consistent game time, he scored six goals and provided an assist, one step away from Fernandes’ return, and created three “big chances” from deep in midfield.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig said he “plays with maturity and composure far beyond his years” and has the potential to become “an absolute leader at a top club one day.”

By the time he turns 18 next month, he has already made 53 appearances for the first team, scoring nine goals and providing one assist. For comparison, Fernandes didn’t even make his senior debut for Sporting until he was already 18 years old.

This speaks volumes about how highly regarded and mature De Cat is, with Transfermarkt already deeming him the fifth most valuable player in the professional league and Anderlecht’s most valuable player.

Watching him in action, there was an admirable silk and grace to his game as he roamed the park in the number six role and led the show from deep.

While Fernandes may fit Tonali’s mold as an energetic, all-action midfielder, De Cato comes from a different background, not necessarily a ball-winning monster but an orchestrator.

That’s not to say he doesn’t offer something outside of possession, boasting 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game last season, and it’s easy to see why he craves such attention.

Of course, paying £34 million for a player who is yet to turn 18 may seem a bit much, but the figure could prove to be a bargain, especially in relation to Fernandes’ asking price.