Spurs chase after ‘incredible’ price for £40m

Tottenham’s transfer strategy this summer is simply chaotic, yet strangely ambitious.

For a club that ranked 17th in the Premier League last season, but the need for reinforcement has never been so urgent as Europa League won Champions League football with Manchester United’s victory.

Their early business included the acquisition of £60m from West Ham, an exciting offensive player who offers versatility throughout the long line.

But the departure and the missed opportunity left a big gap.

After a decade of service in North London, fans’ favorite son, Houng-Min, left LAFC, while the club’s most creative midfielder, James Maddison, suffered a devastating ACL injury in the preseason against Newcastle.

So far, their attempts to fill the gap are frustrated.

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When Arsenal hijacked the deal, Eberechi Eze, who spent £60 million, collapsed. Morgan Gibbs – White people fall into legal complications.

Como star Nico Paz quickly refused the €70 million (£65 million) package, with Argentina making it clear that his intention was to return to Real Madrid in the near future.

The Spurs have even seen Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa, but his £100 million price has left him out of reach.

All of this forces Tottenham to watch elsewhere.

Now their search has made them a player admired in England who has proven himself to play in the Premier League but has recently been hailed by off-court controversy.

According to the Daily Mail, the Spurs are now holding a move for Brazilian organizer Lucas Paquetá, currently at West Ham United.

Aston Villa is also monitoring his situation, but Tottenham’s demand for creative sparks is arguably urgent. Different reports suggest he can make about £40 million.

Paquetá has had a turbulent year, but his quality has never been questioned.

Former teammate Declan Rice once described him as “incredible” and he was also described by a data analyst as “one of the best 1910s in the world”, reminding him of the enormous technical capabilities he brought.

The midfielder’s form gradually declined after it became the subject of betting violation investigations in August 2023.

He continued to play, scoring West Ham’s only goal in his last 5-1 win over Chelsea, but his confidence and consistency were clearly affected by the allegations.

Now that he has been cleared of all charges in 2025, his expectation is that he can eventually leave things behind and rebuild himself on the highest level.

Evaluation of Paquetávs Maddison

For the Spurs, the appeal is clear. As Maddison has a place in the season, there is no natural replacement on the team that can provide the same vision and keen passes.

Paquetá represents a mold-like player with his talent and ability to turn the game immediately.

In recent seasons, he may not have matched Maddison’s output, but the tools already exist – in the right environment, he can thrive.

Paquetá’s figures at West Ham illustrate his strengths and limitations.

At the age of 27, he was approaching his career. He has 55 blocks for Brazil and joined West Ham from Lyon in 2022, making 33 appearances in the Premier League with four goals last season.

The raw statistics don’t scream world-class productivity, but they do reveal a midfielder with valuable creativity and defensive work.

According to FBREF, he ranked 74th percentile (6.16 per 90) in the 79th percentile and 84th percentile attack penalty area (2.18 per 90) in the 90 (2.89) shooting moves.

These indicators emphasize his ability to connect the game between midfield and offense, developing the ball into a dangerous area.

His defensive contribution is also noteworthy, with an impressive 1.91 aerial duels per 90 (89%), making him more than just a luxury player.

However, when comparing directly with Maddison, there is a contrast. The England international has been one of the Spurs’ main players since arriving from Leicester in 2023, with 16 goals and 21 assists in 75 games.

Unfortunately, his injury record is a problem. Last season, he missed 13 games and 11 games – but his impact is undeniable.

Statistically, Maddison beats Paquetá in almost every offensive metric: 4.73 per 90 shots (3.10 for paquetá), 90 progressive passes (5.87 for paquetá) (5.87 for paquetá) and 0.85 shots (0.85 for paquetá) (0.11 for paquetá).

Even his pass rate (81.3%) accounts for 77.3% of Brazil.

This raises a key question: Will the Spurs settle down? On paper, Paquetá did not replicate Maddison’s efficiency in front of the target, nor did he maintain his attacking ability through consistent ball progress.

However, the Brazilian brings different qualities – a more physical presence, a stronger defensive contribution, and a versatility that spans midfield roles. In this regard, he is a big upgrade.

His progressive pass distance of 227.8 per 90 minutes was just behind Maddison’s 250.1, which shows that he can still effectively drive the ball forward.

What really matters is the context. In West Ham, Paquetá is often tasked with working in a rigid system where creativity can be slaughtered.

In a more offensive, Tottenham-based possession setting, his ability to combine with Kudus and Richarlison can unleash new levels of performance.

For the Spurs, this decision wasn’t about finding a perfect Madison clone. It’s about making sure they don’t have a creative heartbeat in the midfield throughout the season.

Paquetá may be inconsistent, but he still has glory.

If Thomas Frank can provide the structure and confidence he lacks in West Ham, then Tottenham may have a player who can decide the game alone like Maddison.