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Fabrizio Romano confirms Tottenham setback in the transfer pursuit of Wembley hero
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Tottenham have suffered a setback in the race to sign Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze

A lot of talk around Tottenham Hotspur at the moment is about potential exits, with Ange Postecoglou’s future at White Hart Lane uncertain. Even if he goes on to lift the Europa League trophy, Postecoglou is expected to be sacked at the end of the season.

In addition, several experienced players could leave the club this summer, such as Cristian Romero, Richarlison and Yves Bissouma. However, as well as exits, news is now emerging of players whom the North London outfit could target when the transfer window reopens in June.

Over the last few weeks and months, Spurs have been linked with several attackers across the continent. This is perhaps down to the fact that the Hotspur Way chiefs are planning to bolster the attacking department. Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has been a target for Tottenham for many years.

Spurs tried to sign the England international from Crystal Palace last year but did not succeed. They are now leading the race for the versatile playmaker’s signature. The 26-year-old has had interest from several Premier League clubs with Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal all watching his situation closely.

Eberechi Eze was the star of the Eagles’ FA Cup winning campaign. He scored the winner in the 1-0 success over Manchester City in the FA Cup final last weekend. The English creative midfielder is ready to leave Selhurst Park, and having won the FA Cup with Oliver Glasner’s side, he may have ended his time at Palace in the ideal way.

However, reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that despite the North London club’s longstanding interest in signing Eze, the Eagles have no intention of selling him.

“There is a player they love and have being loving for a long time, who is Eberechi Eze, who’s doing fantastic at Crystal Palace. Last summer, Tottenham tried to sign the player, were considering to trigger the release clause but then the salary was considered too high and also, the clause was mainly to be paid in one solution so that was a problem,” Fabrizio Romano revealed in the Here We Go Podcast.

“Tottenham decided not to do that deal, he remains a player they love but my understanding is it’s probably going to be difficult to be able to get him this summer, also because Crystal Palace still hope to keep the player at the club to play European football.”

Eze is set to enter the final two years of his Palace contract, which is protected by a £68million release clause. While Oliver Glasner’s side will play in the Europa League next season after winning the FA Cup, the Greenwich-born talent is ‘determined’ to play Champions League football.

With Richarlison and Timo Werner heading for the exit doors in the summer, Daniel Levy is looking to bring in a new attacker to add some quality in the final third and provide squad depth. And Eze would have been ideal for Spurs, given he is Premier League proven and about to hit the peak years of his career. The ex-QPR man would have also provided a different dynamic to ageing star Son Heung-min.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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