After Gallagher: Spurs eye a move for £61m “talent”

Tottenham Hotspur have been one of the most active Premier League clubs in the January transfer window so far.

Former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher is on the brink of sealing a move to the North London club, while Brennan Johnson heads south of the Thames in a £35m move to Crystal Palace.

Thomas Frank has had a difficult first half in his debut season with Spurs, with high expectations placed on their progress following success in the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou last summer.

Despite their exploits in Europe, domestic performances in the Premier League have remained the same, with just seven wins tallied from 21 league fixtures, leaving them 14th in the table.

The former Brentford boss has faced criticism and pressure over his position at the club, but does have the opportunity to turn things around in the immediate term, and the January transfer window could spark a U-turn in the second half of the season.

Spurs have been hit by injuries in their attacking ranks, with Mohammed Kudus ruled out until April and no definitive timeline for the return of Dejan Kulusevski, leaving them light in forward options following Johnson’s exit too.

According to Football.London, Spurs retain a long-term interest in AS Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche and have been given hope in their efforts to secure his signature.

The publication reported earlier this week that the Ligue 1 club are searching for Akliouche’s replacement in preparation for his potential departure either this month or in the summer.

Despite Spurs’ long-term interest in the player, it is noted that many European clubs are also keen on signing the talented forward, meaning they will face strong competition.

There is no doubt that Akliouche is emerging as one of the hottest young prospects in Europe and has continued to shine this season.

Across 23 appearances in all competitions, the 23-year-old Frenchman – once hailed a “talent” by Adi Hutter – has scored three goals and registered five assists from his role on the right wing, as well as delivering a goal and an assist for France in World Cup qualifiers.

Boasting strengths in passing, key passes and defensive contributions, Akliouche is a unique and hard-working forward who thrives on counter-attacking opportunities, poses an indirect threat from set-pieces and isn’t afraid to get stuck into a tackle.

Spurs fans will be familiar with the France international after he caused chaos in the goalless draw with Monaco in the Champions League last October.

In terms of financial investment, it remains unclear what the current price tag would be to get a deal over the line for Akliouche, but a figure of €70m (£61m) was touted by French media during the summer.

While Akliouche may not be posting extreme goal contribution numbers, his all-round game and potential for further development make him an attractive prospect for Spurs to secure a key role in the future of their forward line.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Spurs make a move for Akliouche this month and if it sparks a bidding war with other European clubs.

Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism.

Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting.

Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.