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Tottenham among trio of Premier League clubs to target €332,692-per-week Saudi Pro League star

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated Dec 18, 2025 9:09 AM ET

Tottenham eyeing a deal to bring back former Premier League midfielder in January.

After a strong start to the 2025/26 campaign, Tottenham Hotspur’s form since mid-October have tailed off. This has seen them drop out of the top four places and now lie in the bottom half of the table.

Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground added another embarrassing chapter to Thomas Frank’s tenure in N17. The chastening loss exposed several glaring areas of the squad that will require reinforcing. And one of those areas is the midfield unit.

Tottenham have been outworked and outsmarted in midfield in several games since the 3-0 away win at Everton in October. The decision to drop Joao Palhinha from the first XI in recent games has taken away the protective shield in front of the backline, leading to leakage of goals. Spurs not only require someone who can screen the defence, but also control the play from deep-lying areas.

Over the past few weeks, Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves has emerged as a target for Spurs. He wants to leave Al-Hilal and return to Europe in 2026, having rejected a new contract proposal from the Saudi Pro League club. As a result, Al-Hilal want to cash in on the Portuguese international in the upcoming winter transfer window.

Tottenham hold talks with intermediaries over potential move for Ruben Neves

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are among some Premier League clubs to have spoken with intermediaries over a possible ambitious deal for Ruben Neves. Manchester United and Newcastle United are also keen on signing the ex-Wolves star.

Neves has proven to be one of the most successful buys in the Saudi Pro League’s history. The deep-lying playmaker has netted 15 times in 128 appearances, whilst winning four trophies in his first two seasons with Al-Hilal. Now entering the final six months of his contract, it is understood that the 28-year-old has told his agents that he is open to a move in January.

The report adds that West Ham are strongly pushing for the signing of Neves. There is also interest from Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal, but the midfielder favours a move back to England. Any potential deal would need to be a permanent one, given he is out of contract in June 2026.

Neves would be a shrewd acquisition for Tottenham

Tottenham’s interest in Neves has apparently intensified recently, with the club viewing him as a cost-effective midfield reinforcement under Thomas Frank. This is because the Riyadh-based club would be willing to part ways with him for around €20m in January.

Pape Matar Sarr’s upcoming participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal will leave a hole in the squad, and a player like Neves would be more than capable of filling it. The Portuguese, with his experience and skill-set, would be a solid addition to the Lilywhites’ ranks.

However, his €332,692 gross per week at Al-Hilal could prove a stumbling block for the majority of European clubs, including Tottenham. If Neves agrees to take a significant wage cut to facilitate his exit from Al-Hilal, Tottenham could find encouragement to table a bid for him.

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

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