Tottenham Transfer News: Spurs 'ready' to swoop for £52m ace as talks stall

Spurs are reportedly preparing to enter the race for an ex-Premier League player who has been linked with a late winter window move.

Tottenham have had a busy January when it comes to transfers, with Conor Gallagher their headline arrival from Atletico Madrid.

More recently, they have been linked with free agent Raheem Sterling, while Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka was also thought to be of interest before he decided to see out the season in Germany.

But claims from Italy ahead of the weekend suggested there could be an 11th-hour move from the Lilywhites to boost the Tottenham attack.

Spurs are reportedly ‘ready’ to make a move for Al-Ittihad’s Moussa Diaby after Serie A leaders Inter failed with their initial proposal for the Frenchman.

Diaby has been rumoured to be close to leaving his Saudi Pro League side, whom he joined in the summer of 2024 from Aston Villa for just under £52m.

The winger’s departure was something of a surprise given he only had one campaign at Villa Park, where he was instrumental in helping them qualify for the Champions League.

And after 18 months in Saudi Arabia, it appears European football is calling once more.

According to SportItalia reporter Gianluigi Longari (via Sport Witness), Inter’s failure to secure a quick deal could allow Spurs to swoop in, with Al-Ittihad rejecting the Nerazzurri’s loan-to-buy offer.

While Longari says that this will have to change – either to a buy obligation or an outright transfer – Tottenham are now poised to pounce on Inter’s dallying.

The only note of caution would be that Spurs’ involvement could stem from agents trying to manifest Inter’s next move – a tactic seen previously when Fenerbahce were told of top-flight clubs’ interest in Diaby’s teammate, N’Golo Kante.

Even so, having let Brennan Johnson move to Crystal Palace earlier in the window, there is a vacancy on the wing at Spurs, and considering Diaby’s previous in the Premier League (and on the continent), he could be a wise acquisition indeed.

Diaby followed up some stellar campaigns at Bayer Leverkusen by contributing to 16 league goals in his solitary season at Villa, during which he also helped guide them to the Conference League semi-finals under Unai Emery.

PSR constraints contributed to his eventual exit, but he continued his fine form in the Saudi Pro League, reaching the top of the assists charts with 15.

Clearly adept at creating goalscoring opportunities, he could be just what Tottenham need given their present lack of attacking prowess.

The likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke are yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League, albeit with the latter only recently back from injury.

But aside from top scorer Richarlison, only Mohammed Kudus can cover himself in glory when it comes to putting goals and assists on the board – and he won’t be back from injury for some time.

Of course, there is more to a player than chance creation and goals, but if Spurs were to take a chance on anyone late in this window, someone with Diaby’s track record would surely be high on Thomas Frank’s list.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.

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