Much to the relief of fans across N17, Tottenham seem to be taking the difficult task of rebuilding their squad seriously this time. But what winger targets should Spurs look at this transfer window?
Tottenham Hotspur were quick to move in the summer transfer window, adding Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to their roster almost immediately after the window opened.
Now, their attentions seem to have shifted to attacking targets. A deal with Manchester City for Savinho seems to be in its final stages and, if indeed Savio walks through the doors at Hotspur Way, Tottenham will be adding a valuable attacker to their roster.
But even with those crucial reinforcements in the form of Savinho, the painful memories of last season are still fresh, when Spurs were forced to field Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani every week when neither of them is a natural winger.
The squad situation at Tottenham isn’t getting any better either. Mohammed Kudus remains sidelined by a muscle injury, and the exact timeline for his return is uncertain. Xavi Simons tore his knee ligament and is expected to be out until early 2027, leaving James Maddison as the only fit attacking midfielder at the club.
As things stand, the injured Kudus is Tottenham’s only first-choice right-winger on the books, meaning that Spurs would be well served to make another addition to their squad in that area of the pitch.
Spurs’ injuries do put them in an awkward spot, however. If the club continue to make attacking purchases, the eventual returns of Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, and Xavi Simons could mean that Tottenham might suddenly find themselves with an excess of players, forcing sales.
Still, entering the 26/27 season without a fit right-winger and a single fit attacking midfielder is a sure-fire way that Spurs end up in the same mess they ended this season in.
Here are three realistic right-wing options Spurs could look to bring in to further strengthen their squad.
Tottenham target Maghnes Akliouche – £43m (Transfermarkt)
If rumours are to be believed, Spurs were close to signing the Monaco winger back in January, with the deal eventually falling through. Back then, Akliouche’s signing would have constituted some smart business, with Brenan Johnson leaving the club and the injury crisis at Tottenham beginning to ramp up. Akliouche would have given valuable cover both at right-wing and attacking midfield.
His versatility is exactly what makes Akliouche the perfect signing for the current Tottenham squad. While his best position is without doubt on the right side of the pitch, if James Maddison winds up unavailable, Akliouche’s technical ability and confidence when in possession would still put him miles ahead of Spurs’ other options there.
As the injured players would continue to return to the squad, Akliouche could be rotated with Mohammed Kudus, offering a different tactical profile to the Ghanaian’s. While Kudus is at his best when playing close to the touchline, isolating the opposition fullback to make best use of his outstanding 1v1 abilities, Akliouche is happy to play as a facilitator of attacks, occupying more central spaces and combining with other players.
His goal-scoring record is nothing to scoff at either, and could be invaluable in a team struggling to score for all of last season; he managed 13 goal involvements for Monaco last season. This makes Akliouche one of the best possible fits given Spurs’ peculiar situation this season.
Yankuba Minteh £38m (Transfermarkt)
Roberto De Zerbi could also eye to raid his former club for one of the top right-wing talents currently in European football. While Minteh offers less of the versatility than the likes of Akliouche, his sheer output as a 1v1 winger and one of the best crossers in the league would make him an incredible option for Spurs on the right.
Brighton, who currently employ Minteh, have shown they have no issue with selling their top talent if the price is right. The bigger issues that Spurs might have with signing Minteh is whether he could be persuaded to join a team where his play time wouldn’t be guaranteed and would have to compete for minutes with another top winger of a similar profile in Mohammed Kudus.
Still, Minteh’s quality as a player and potential to develop into one of the best players in his position in Europe would make Minteh an investment with huge potential to be recouped later on.
Harry Wilson £20m (Transfermarkt)
Wilson is bound to be one of the less exciting names on the list, but he could still be an incredibly valuable addition to the Spurs squad. Wilson’s contract with Fulham is running out this summer, meaning that his services could be secured on a free transfer, allowing Spurs to reinvest a potential transfer fee in other areas.
Wilson enjoyed a standout season with Fulham, managing 17 goal contributions for the Cottagers, and would bring plenty of Premier League experience and technical quality to a team in desperate need for some.
But Wilson’s signature also creates significant squad issues for Tottenham later down the line. The Welsh winger isn’t a natural profile fit for a De Zerbi team as a winger, especially considering his lack of pace and dependence on positional freedom for effectiveness.
As a squad option and cover both for right-wing and attacking midfield, Wilson could certainly find a purpose under Roberto De Zerbi, but it is equally uncertain whether he’d be content with serving a rotational or squad-player role. His high wage demands could also mean that the Spurs board might be reticent to offer a contract to a player who won’t be making an immediate first-team impact.