Spurs in club-to-club talks to sign £34m star

Those at the London Stadium must be getting sick of the sight of Tottenham Hotspur, with the Lilywhites again looking ready to raid their city rivals for the second summer in succession.

A year ago, the north London outfit plucked Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United on a £55m deal, with the club having since now joined the race for current Hammers star, Mateus Fernandes, alongside Manchester United.

There appears to be a desire to sign the Portuguese playmaker as well as Sandro Tonali, even with Roberto De Zerbi already boasting two stellar, young midfield prospects in the form of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Fernandes, only 21 himself, appears to have emerged as a top priority for new boss De Zerbi, although he isn’t the only exciting target on the agenda this summer.

Spurs already in club-to-club talks to sign Fernandes alternative

As reported this week, Spurs have made calls regarding a possible move for Fernandes, the ex-Southampton man seemingly up for grabs following West Ham’s recent relegation.

The east London side reportedly need to raise £150m following that drop into the second tier, ensuring that Fernandes could fetch as much as £80m.

That would represent a significant profit on a player whom they signed for closer to £40m just a year ago, with Spurs also likely to have cheaper alternatives in mind.

As per TEAMtalk, among those being considered is Belgian sensation, Nathan De Cat, with Tottenham said to be one of ‘most active suitors’, alongside the likes of Man Utd.

According to the report, ENIC have already opened talks with De Cat’s current side, Anderlecht, ahead of a potential move, having already scouted the teenager ‘extensively’.

Still only 17, the in-demand talent could command a fee of around €40m (£34m), a figure that would represent a club-record sale for the Belgian Pro League side.

Why De Cat could be a bigger talent than Fernandes

As already stated, Spurs have been no strangers to making exciting, long-term midfield signings of late, with Gray and Bergvall already joining the ranks back in 2024.

Both Fernandes and De Cat would fit the bill too, although it might be the latter who represents the even bigger coup, with journalist Bence Bocsak hailing him as “one of the best young midfielders around in Europe right now”.

That is some statement for a player who is still only 17, four years younger than the West Ham man, yet De Cat is fresh off a stunning, breakout season in his homeland.

While he debuted back in 2024/25, scoring once in six league games, the £34m-rated star did enjoy a far more sustained run in the side last time out, starting 34 Pro League games.

That consistent game time saw him chip in with six goals and assists, just one shy of Fernandes’ return, while he created three ‘big chances’ from his deep-lying midfield berth.

Encouragingly too, in the view of talent scout Jacek Kulig, he “plays with the maturity and composure of someone far beyond his years”, tipped to become “a leader at an absolute top club one day”.

He’s already made 53 first-team appearances, scoring and assisting nine times, before turning 18 next month. For comparison, Fernandes didn’t even make his senior Sporting debut until after he’d already turned 18.

That speaks to just how highly-regarded and mature De Cat is, with Transfermarkt already deeming him to be the fifth-most valuable player in the Pro League, and the most valuable player at Anderlecht.

Watching him in action too, there is a silk and an elegance to his game that is to be admired, strolling about the park in his number six role, running the show from deep.

Fernandes might fit the Tonali mould as a high-octane, all-action midfielder, but De Cat is cut from a different cloth, an orchestrator rather than necessarily a ball-winning monster.

That’s not to say he doesn’t offer something out of possession, boasting 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game last season, with it easy to see why he is coveting such interest.

Of course, forking out £34m for a player still yet to turn 18 may appear somewhat, although that figure could prove to be a bargain, particularly in relation to Fernandes’ possible asking price.