Tottenham Hotspur are apparently preparing to rival Manchester City for the services of one of the jewels in the Crystal Palace crown this summer.
Alongside exciting Frenchman Michael Olise, England international Eberechi Eze has enjoyed another stellar campaign on the Selhurst Park books, having a direct hand in 14 goals in 30 games.
Eze has struck nine goals of his own in addition to providing five assists, coming up with all of those strikes in 26 Premier League appearances and forcing his way into the England squad on account of his progress.
The 25-year-old made his first two appearances for the Three Lions in 2023, and he could be a dark horse for a Euro 2024 call-up amid Palace's brilliant end to the season.
Oliver Glasner's side have won five and drawn one of their last six games, only dropping points in a 1-1 draw with London rivals Fulham, a match that Eze was not involved in.
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Palace 'name hefty asking price for Eze'
After helping the Eagles in their 4-0 crushing of Manchester United, Eze was on target in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, his 24th goal in 123 matches for the capital club.
Amid growing interest in his services, Palace tied Eze down to a new contract in November, and his current terms are not due to run out until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
However, the Englishman's new deal is unlikely to deter suitors from making their move, and according to Football Insider, both Spurs and Man City are monitoring his situation in London.
It is unclear whether Eze's renewal last year included a release clause similar to Olise's, whose previous £35m option was triggered by Chelsea last summer before he snubbed the Blues and also committed his future to Palace.
Regardless, the report adds that only bids north of £60m will be considered for the former Queens Park Rangers star, but the club are braced for a battle to keep hold of the playmaker this summer.
Where could Eze fit in at Man City, Tottenham?
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While the 25-year-old favours the number 10 position - unsurprising, given that is where most of his goals come from - he has also been deployed on both wings, albeit more frequently on the left.
Should Eze wish to advance his career as an out-and-out attacking midfielder, he may run into an issue with that at Man City and Tottenham; Kevin De Bruyne and James Maddison are the undisputed starters there.
Then again, De Bruyne's contract at the Etihad only runs until the summer of 2025, and City have apparently put talks over a new deal on ice before the end of the campaign. While fresh terms are likely, the Belgian turns 33 next month and will not be around forever.
Tottenham's wide ranks will take a hit this summer if Timo Werner's loan from RB Leipzig is not converted into a permanent deal, so Eze could realistcally compete with Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson for that berth in North London.
Ben Knapton
