Spurs make approach for “imperious” £22m star

It’s safe to say no Tottenham Hotspur fan could’ve predicted what the club have been through over the last couple of weeks, with Thomas Frank enduring quite the start to his reign at the club.

The Dane was appointed as the Lilywhites’ new boss back in June, looking to build on the Europa League success achieved by Ange Postecoglou at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

He’s certainly looked to add to his squad, completing the £55m deal of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United last week, with the Ghanaian becoming the first major signing of his spell in charge.

It looked almost certain that the 24-year-old would be joined by Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White in North London, but a deal has appeared to hit a huge stumbling block.

Such a scenario is something you would usually see when watching a Hollywood movie, but it’s something that has to be taken into consideration when dealing with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Spurs decided to trigger Gibbs-White’s £60m release clause in his contract last Thursday, with a deal rapidly developing, so much so that he was set for a medical the following day.

However, a deal has been far from ideal to date, with Forest threatening legal action over an illegal approach, which could be seen as an added money-making exercise given the bargain clause.

Whilst that deal appears on hold for the time being, the same can’t be said for centre-back Koni de Winter, with progress being made for his signature, according to The i Paper.

They claim that the Lilywhites have made an approach to land the Belgian international who could be available for as little as £22m during the ongoing window.

However, it also states that they face tough competition from Intern Milan for the 23-year-old’s services, potentially leading to a battle to land the star in the coming weeks.

Why Spurs’ £22m target would be a better signing than Gibbs-White

Given his tally of seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season, there’s no denying that Gibbs-White would be a superb addition for Frank’s side ahead of 2025/26.

He has the opportunity to further his career, playing in the Champions League whilst also potentially cementing his place within Thomas Tuchel’s England set up on a consistent basis.

However, despite the work of Marinakis to stop such a move, there’s also the question of where the 25-year-old would feature in North London, given the addition of Kudus and the current option of James Maddison.

There’s no denying that his best position is in the number ten role behind the striker, potentially being a waste of money, should the manager land him and decide to play him out of position.

Such a decision could make De Winter a better addition this summer, especially considering the lack of depth currently available in the centre-back department.

The Belgian would offer a superb option for Frank’s side ahead, potentially having the tools to cement his place in the side in the long term, given his tender age.

De Winter, who’s been labelled “imperious” by journalist Sacha Tavolieri, won 58% of the tackles he entered last year, whilst winning 3.2 aerials per 90, handing Frank’s side a talented defensive option to help bolster the backline.

He also made 1.1 interceptions per 90 and 4.8 recoveries, helping the Italian side keep double figures for clean sheets – something which is desperately needed in North London, given their measly tally of 65 goals conceded.

At just 23, he’s already racked up over 100 senior appearances, having the ability, but also the potential to be a real asset for the club in the present and the years ahead.

Gibbs-White would certainly excel in North London, but the need for added reinforcements at the back is just as important during the current window.

De Winter would provide just that, and at just £22m he would be a massive bargain, one that could also see the hierarchy make a tidy profit on their investment in the near future.