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SPORTS
Tottenham Hotspur ready to hijack move for La Liga forward
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Tottenham Hotspur’s summer rebuild could be about to take an intriguing turn, with Sport reporting that Spurs have made contact with Real Betis over a potential move for Abde Ezzalzouli.
The Morocco international has already been heavily linked with Newcastle United, who are assessing attacking options after Anthony Gordon’s reported move to Barcelona in a deal worth around £70m. Yet Tottenham’s interest adds a fresh layer of urgency to the situation, especially with Roberto De Zerbi now attempting to reshape a squad that came too close to disaster last season.
Spurs Target Forward Reinforcement
Tottenham’s 2025/26 campaign ended with relief rather than celebration, after a 1-0 win over Everton helped them narrowly avoid relegation on the final day. De Zerbi’s arrival with seven matches remaining did improve the mood and performances, but the scale of the task remains obvious.
A new forward is among the priorities, and Ezzalzouli would bring pace, directness and unpredictability. The 24-year-old has been described as a ‘superstar’, and while that label brings expectation, his profile does fit what Spurs currently lack.
He is comfortable attacking defenders, can operate from wide areas and has the kind of dynamism that could give Tottenham a more dangerous edge in transition and sustained attacking phases.
Photo: IMAGO
Real Betis Pressure Could Open Door
Betis’ financial situation may prove decisive. Sport report that the Spanish club need to raise funds before June 30th, despite qualifying for the Champions League. That creates a difficult balancing act for Manuel Pellegrini, who is understood to be keen to keep Ezzalzouli for next season.
However, an exit now appears increasingly possible. His release clause is set at €60m, around £52m, which is a sizeable figure but not outlandish in the current Premier League market. For Tottenham, the appeal is clear. This is a player approaching his prime, with international pedigree and further growth potential.
Newcastle Battle Adds Transfer Intrigue
Newcastle’s interest should not be underestimated. They have a clear attacking vacancy and Champions League ambitions of their own. Yet Tottenham’s move to make contact suggests they are not merely monitoring the market, they are actively testing whether this deal can be done.
Ezzalzouli is also expected to play a major role for Morocco at the World Cup, and Betis may believe his value could rise further on that stage. That factor may force interested clubs to move quickly rather than wait for the tournament to reshape the market.
De Zerbi Project Needs Energy
For De Zerbi, this is the type of signing that could help define the next phase of Tottenham’s rebuild. Spurs need more than squad depth. They need players who can change the rhythm of matches, unsettle low blocks and make the team more aggressive in wide areas.
Ezzalzouli would not solve everything, but he would represent ambition, upside and tactical fit. After a season of anxiety, Tottenham supporters need evidence that the club are prepared to act decisively. Making contact with Betis is only an early step, but it is a significant one.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Tottenham perspective, this is exactly the kind of rumour that gets the pulse racing. After the stress of last season, Spurs need signings that feel bold, exciting and properly aligned with what De Zerbi wants to build.
Ezzalzouli ticks so many boxes. He is quick, brave on the ball and has that street football spark that can lift a stadium. Tottenham have had too many games where the attack has looked predictable, slow or far too easy to defend against. A player like this gives you chaos, and sometimes chaos is exactly what a team needs.
The Newcastle angle makes it even better. If Spurs can genuinely step in and hijack a deal from a direct Premier League rival, that sends a message. It says Tottenham are not prepared to drift, not prepared to act like last season was acceptable, and not prepared to sit quietly while others strengthen.
Yes, £52m is serious money. But this squad needs serious investment. De Zerbi needs players who can run, press, take risks and hurt opponents. Ezzalzouli feels like one of those signings fans would immediately connect with. After a year of nerves, this would feel like ambition returning.



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SPORTS
Tottenham Hotspur dealt transfer hammer blow as midfielder agrees terms
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Tottenham Hotspur’s summer planning has taken an early hit, with Joao Palhinha reportedly agreeing terms over a return to Sporting CP.
According to A Bola (via Give Me Sport), who were responsible for the original article, the Portugal international has reached an agreement with his former club, although Sporting still need to negotiate a deal with Bayern Munich. That remains the crucial part of the process, particularly as the Portuguese side are understood to prefer a loan move with an option to buy.
For Tottenham, the situation is awkward. Palhinha spent the season on loan from Bayern and Spurs retain an option to make the move permanent. Roberto De Zerbi had made clear that he wanted the midfielder to stay, having described him as ‘one of the best’.
Palhinha Agreement Leaves Spurs Exposed
This is not the sort of uncertainty Tottenham needed after such a difficult campaign. Spurs survived on the final day with a 1-0 win over Everton, a result that prevented an unthinkable drop and offered the club a chance to reset.
Palhinha played a significant role in that survival push. His goals against Wolves and Everton were not decorative moments, they were season defining contributions from a player brought in primarily to protect the back four.
Photo: IMAGO
He may not be the flashiest name on Tottenham’s recruitment list, but his value became increasingly obvious. He gave De Zerbi structure, aggression, experience and authority in midfield. Those qualities are not easily replaced.
Sporting CP Move Depends on Bayern
Sporting have done the personal terms part of the deal, but Bayern remain central to what happens next. The Bundesliga club will decide whether a loan with an option suits their own position, or whether they prefer a permanent sale.
That detail matters for Spurs. Until Bayern and Sporting reach an agreement, Tottenham still have a pathway to act. However, if Palhinha has already settled on the idea of returning to Portugal, Spurs face a more complicated task than simply triggering a clause or reopening talks.
De Zerbi Faces Midfield Dilemma
De Zerbi’s desire to keep Palhinha speaks volumes. The Tottenham manager inherited a fragile squad, then watched the midfielder grow into one of the more dependable figures during the run in.
Losing him would not simply remove a defensive midfielder from the squad. It would take away one of the few players who looked comfortable handling pressure when Tottenham’s season was at its most dangerous.
Spurs now need clarity. If Palhinha is leaving, the recruitment department must move quickly and decisively. Tottenham cannot afford another summer where key decisions drift, especially when the squad requires stability, leadership and a stronger spine.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Tottenham perspective, this report is deeply frustrating. Palhinha was hardly signed with huge fanfare, but by the end of the season he looked like one of the few players who truly understood the situation. When Spurs needed fight, he gave them fight. When they needed composure, he offered it. When they needed someone to step forward, he scored vital goals.
That is why this feels like more than a normal transfer setback. Tottenham have spent too long letting useful players slip away while searching for something more exciting. Palhinha might not sell shirts or dominate highlight reels, but he brought responsibility to a side that often looked short of it.
If De Zerbi wants him, and if he proved himself during a relegation battle, why has the club allowed Sporting CP to get this far? Supporters can accept losing out on elite targets, but losing a player already in the building, already settled, already trusted by the manager, feels careless.
Spurs need a serious summer. Letting Palhinha walk would send the wrong message.



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Newcastle United pushing to sign forward with £52m release clause
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Newcastle United’s summer transfer plans appear to be moving with urgency after Anthony Gordon’s expected switch to Barcelona, with TeamTalk reporting that Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli has become a serious target for Eddie Howe’s side.
The 24-year-old Morocco international is coming off a superb season in Spain, having delivered 15 goals and 13 assists in 43 appearances for Betis. That return, 28 goal contributions in total, explains why Newcastle are now looking closely at a player described in the original report as one of “LaLiga’s most dangerous wide forwards”.
Ezzalzouli Fits Newcastle’s Attacking Need
According to TeamTalk, Newcastle have been monitoring Ezzalzouli for several months, with their interest predating Gordon’s move to the Nou Camp. However, Gordon’s agreed £69m transfer to Barcelona has clearly changed the tempo of discussions.
TeamTalk states that “Newcastle’s pursuit of a new left-sided attacker has accelerated”, with Ezzalzouli now viewed internally as “one of the standout options available on the market”.
Photo: IMAGO
That feels significant. Newcastle do not merely need depth, they need a player capable of replacing Gordon’s directness, pace and ability to stretch matches. Ezzalzouli, a right-footed inverted winger who can operate across the frontline, appears to fit that brief.
Real Betis Valuation Creates Clear Transfer Path
Ezzalzouli’s contract includes a €60m, around £52m, release clause, although TeamTalk reports that Real Betis may be willing to negotiate slightly below that figure if serious offers arrive.
That could matter for Newcastle, particularly with Barcelona owed 20% of any profit from the deal that took him to Betis in 2023. Betis signed him from Barcelona for just €7.5m, a move that has since proven extremely smart.
The winger’s development has been sharp. After leaving Barcelona in search of regular football, he has transformed promise into production, adding end product to his already obvious pace and dribbling.
Premier League Competition May Complicate Deal
Newcastle are not alone. TeamTalk claims Chelsea’s BlueCo group, Manchester City’s City Football Group, Everton’s Friedkin Group and Aston Villa have all shown interest. Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Napoli have also monitored him.
Still, Newcastle may hold one major advantage, opportunity. With Gordon leaving, there is a clear pathway into a prominent role at St James’ Park.
TeamTalk reports that “Ezzalzouli’s camp are fully open to the prospect of a move to St James’ Park”, with the player attracted by Newcastle’s project and the Premier League.
Gordon Exit Forces Newcastle Response
Gordon’s departure will sting, especially given how central he became to Newcastle’s identity under Howe. His pace, aggression and emotional edge made him a fan favourite.
Yet if Newcastle can move decisively for Ezzalzouli, this could become a proactive rebuild rather than a reactive scramble. The key is speed. With the player preparing to represent Morocco at the World Cup, his profile may only grow.
For Newcastle, the message is clear. Losing Gordon hurts, but replacing him with a 28 goal contribution winger entering his prime would be a serious statement.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Newcastle United point of view, this report brings excitement, but also plenty of nerves. Anthony Gordon leaving for Barcelona feels like a massive blow, no matter how impressive the fee looks on paper. He had become one of those players supporters could emotionally connect with, direct, fearless and willing to carry the fight.
Ezzalzouli sounds like a thrilling replacement. The numbers are excellent, 15 goals and 13 assists is not a small sample, and his profile makes sense. Pace, dribbling, goals, versatility, all of it points towards a player who could thrive at St James’ Park.
But Newcastle fans have seen how quickly transfer optimism can become frustration. Interest from Chelsea, City Football Group, Villa, Dortmund, Leipzig and Napoli makes this feel like a deal that needs urgency. If Newcastle hesitate, someone else will surely move.
There is also pressure on the recruitment team. Selling Gordon for £69m only works if the money is reinvested with precision. Supporters will not accept a downgrade dressed up as clever business.
Ezzalzouli may be the right player, but Newcastle must prove they can close elite level deals quickly. This summer now feels defining.



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