Tottenham Hotspur’s attacking woes have been compounded by the departure of Son Heung-min to Los Angeles FC and an injury to James Maddison, who suffered an ACL rupture during pre-season. With Dejan Kulusevski also sidelined, summer signing Mohammed Kudus is likely to operate in the No.10 role.
To bolster their attacking options, Spurs have been scouring the market for reinforcements. Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss has emerged as a target, while Manchester City’s James McAtee was also on their radar. However, it appears that McAtee has opted to join Nottingham Forest instead.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Nottingham Forest have agreed a fee with Manchester City and will pay an initial £22m for McAtee, rising to £30m with add-ons. The player will undergo a medical at the City Ground.
This development is a significant blow to Tottenham, who had held talks with Manchester City over a potential deal for McAtee. Furthermore, Forest have already thwarted Spurs’ attempts to sign Morgan Gibbs-White, who signed a new contract with the Midlands club after they blocked a move to Tottenham.
McAtee’s decision to leave Manchester City in pursuit of regular playing time is understandable, given his limited opportunities under Pep Guardiola last season. At 22, he is eager to establish himself as a key player, and Forest’s acquisition of him is a significant coup.
Tottenham’s failure to secure McAtee’s signature may prompt them to explore alternative targets to strengthen their attacking midfield options. With the transfer deadline looming, Daniel Levy and Thomas Frank will be working tirelessly to identify and secure the right players to enhance their squad.
