Why Spurs want to break their transfer record to sign their own Rice

Over the last few years, Tottenham Hotspur have sat idly by and watched their rivals dominate the Premier League.

Arsenal are now champions. Spurs are anything but. Consecutive 17th placed finishes have fallen their way and now, at long, long last, is the time for change.

There has been a renewed sense of urgency about their summer work so far. This time, it is the Lilywhites who are looking to spend big, potentially set to break their transfer record twice in one summer.

While the likes of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have signed on free transfers, Jan Paul van Hecke has arrived in a £52m deal and is set to be followed by more big-money acquisitions.

Spurs could sign their answer to Declan Rice

The order of the day at Spurs this summer would appear to be to sign Premier League-proven talents.

Three players have already arrived from English clubs and there could be more to follow. Deals for Cody Gakpo and Omar Marmoush have been mooted in some circles while Savinho is a long-term target who could finally head to north London this summer.

Yet, the big story is undoubtedly in midfield where two players, in particular, are being targeted. Sandro Tonali is option number one with Spurs said to be ready to ‘break the bank’ to bring the Italian to Tottenham in the forthcoming weeks.

The player is open to the move and has a connection with Roberto De Zerbi with both men hailing from the same place in Italy; Brescia.

While that move would be quite the coup, an even bigger one could be sourced in the form of West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. Manchester United have been pushing hard for this one but Spurs are at the table too.

Providing the latest information on a move, Fabrizio Romano told his YouTube channel: “The reality of this story is that Mateus Fernandes is prepared to go to Manchester United or Tottenham. The player is open to both moves. He does not want to stay at West Ham. He is ready to go. The player is not creating any issue.”

Romano continued: “The point is to reach an agreement with West Ham. Man United and Tottenham are driving the process with the player’s camp and with West Ham but attacking every day. The player will go to the club who is ready to make an agreement with West Ham on finance. They start at £85m but it could be more if these clubs continue fighting.”

Why Fernandes could be Tottenham’s own Rice

After Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy just over a month ago, their co-owner Josh Kroenke recalled the Declan Rice saga, revealing it was a “big moment” in their project.

It was the catalyst for change. It was the moment the world started taking the Gunners seriously again.

Mikel Arteta’s men had beaten Manchester City to the signing of one of the best up and coming midfielders in the world. Three years on, he is now one of the best in the entire world, full stop.

It may well have taken them a few seasons to get over the line but there is a feeling that without Rice, they would not have lifted the title. He has been an immovable object in the middle of the park, driving the ball forward, breaking up play and inspiring his teammates to greater things.

Well, three years after his exit, Spurs could be set to replicate Arsenal’s trick by welcoming Fernandes from east to north London.

While the West Ham connection is there, like when Rice moved, this would be a signing that puts Spurs back on the map. Never have they spent over £65m on a player and they could obliterate their transfer record to get this one done.

While De Zerbi’s side are unlikely to be challenging for the title anytime soon, it would be a transfer that moves them closer to the genuinely elite teams in England. Fernandes is that good.

Why is he so special, however? Well, as former midfielder Jo Tessem put it when it when the Portuguese was still at Southampton; “He is becoming an ultimate Premier League midfielder. He plays like a Premier League player. He passes like a Premier League player. He is quick like a Premier League player. He conducts himself so well in midfield.”

In short, the 21-year-old has it all, much like Rice. There is one key metric that helps rubbersamp the comparison. When it comes to carrying the ball without losing possession, they are the best in the division for their position.

They are pure ground eaters with Fernandes and Rice topping the charts last term for the highest ratio of progressive carry distance to turnover per carry

In essence, when the two midfielders start running with the ball, it’s incredibly difficult to win it back. They are true powerhouses and while Fernandes may not have the same stockier build as Rice, their athleticism is well matched.

If they can get this deal over the line, it would be a true game-changer.