Key Takeaways:
- Tottenham Hotspur advanced negotiations with Crystal Palace on Monday regarding Eberechi Eze’s potential transfer for £55m plus add-ons
- Crystal Palace seek more of the transfer fee up front to enable securing a replacement prior to releasing Eze
- Eze participated in Sunday’s goalless stalemate against Chelsea with his free-kick goal disallowed, signalling the deal was not finalised over the weekend
Negotiations Make Headway But Payment Structure Still Unresolved
Tottenham Hotspur have taken a significant step forward in their pursuit of Eberechi Eze, following a fresh round of discussions with Crystal Palace on Monday. After hitting an impasse at the weekend, the clubs have now moved closer to agreeing a deal valued at £55m with additional performance-based add-ons. However, the clubs remain at odds over the structure in which payments will be disbursed, with Palace pushing for a larger portion of the fee to be paid up front. This would facilitate parallel efforts by Palace to line up a replacement for the England international before he departs.
Transfer Developments Amidst On-Field Action
While there had been expectation that an agreement could be reached by Saturday, talks stalled and extended into the current week. Eze remained involved with the team, playing in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Chelsea, where his free-kick found the net but was ruled out because of Marc Guehi’s proximity to the defensive wall. His appearance served as a clear indication that negotiations had not reached a resolution in the days preceding the match. Palace’s intent to only permit Eze’s departure once a suitable replacement is secured has also contributed to the extended timeline.
Contract Situation and Other Interested Parties
The 27-year-old midfielder, who was pivotal in Palace’s memorable FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City in May, recently saw his £68m release clause lapse last Friday, making transfer discussions more complex. Reports suggest Arsenal retain an interest in signing Eze, but Tottenham remain in pole position as talks advance. Manager Oliver Glasner commented after the Chelsea stalemate:
“As much as I know, Eze has a contract with Crystal Palace, he’s a Crystal Palace player and he showed it today,” said manager Oliver Glasner after the stalemate with Chelsea.
“As long as he is a Palace player and performs like this he will play for us. Nobody has told me something else.
“He was picked because he’s a Crystal Palace player and he’s a very good player. He trained the whole week so there was no reason not to pick him.
“The players are giving their answer (to press speculation) week by week. Last week winning against Liverpool on penalties (in the Community Shield) and here against the club world champions.
“Don’t always believe what you read, especially on the internet. And here it’s the same. Who knows that this is the truth, what is written? You’ve got rumours, so many rumours.
“I watch the players every day. If most of the things that are written about them are true, they couldn’t perform like this, they couldn’t be together like this, couldn’t be committed like this.”
Eze’s Recent Contributions and Negotiation Timeline
| Date | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Last Friday | Eze’s £68m release clause expires | Contractual clause no longer valid |
| Saturday | Negotiations stall between Tottenham and Crystal Palace | Discussions continue into next week |
| Sunday | Crystal Palace vs Chelsea | 0-0 draw; Eze goal ruled out |
| Monday | New round of negotiations conclude | Talks progress but no final agreement yet |
