Tottenham called out by Troy Deeney over ‘daft’ transfer decision

Tottenham are ‘daft’ to pass up the chance to sign Jack Grealish this summer, says Troy Deeney. The talkSPORT pundit says the Spurs squad still needs major surgery to be competitive this season – particularly after losing two key first-team players. Grealish knows his Man City career is over, and has been linked with moves to Tottenham, Everton and West Ham this summerGetty New manager Thomas Frank was dealt a major blow this week, with news he will be without starting No.10 and vice captain James Maddison for the entire campaign. The England midfielder suffered an ACL injury in a pre-season game against Newcastle in South Korea, and is now set for surgery before a long rehab process. The same game also saw the final ever appearance of Heung-min Son in a Tottenham shirt, with the club captain leaving the north London club after ten years to sign for LA FC in Major League Soccer. While Spurs haven’t exactly been quiet in the transfer window, fans are expecting a number of major arrivals before the September 1 deadline – no doubt Frank will, too. Mohammed Kudus has arrived from West Ham in a deal worth £55m, while Mathys Tel’s loan from Bayern Munich was made permanent to boost their attacking options. Joao Palhinha has also arrived on loan from Bayern to bolster the midfielder, while Kevin Danso’s loan from Lens was turned into a full-time deal, and young defenders Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai have also arrived. As for outgoings, Tottenham made around £19.3million [an MLS-record $26m fee] on Son, as well as around £17m in a deal to sell Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Marseille. But after losing Maddison to major injury and also missing out on top target Morgan Gibbs-White, who u-turned on his wish to leave Nottingham Forest to then sign a new contract at the City Ground, Deeney insists they need more. Grealish has been strongly linked with a move to White Hart Lane this summer, although the club has since distanced themselves from a possible move for the Man City outcast. And Deeney can’t understand why, saying it would be a ‘perfect’ fit. Deeney doesn’t understand why Tottenham aren’t interested in GrealishtalkSPORT Grealish would bring title-winning experience to a Tottenham side aiming for more silverware after ending their long wait with the Europa League trophy last seasonGetty “With Maddison going down, they have to look at that No.10,” the former Premier League striker told talkSPORT. “I still think it’s a perfect landing spot for Jack Grealish, personally. I think it’s a wonderful landing spot. “We’re being told Tottenham have played down their interest in Jack, but you’re talking about someone who has won. “Whatever people want to say about Jack, he’s been at City, he’s used to winning, he knows the level, knows the standard, and he’s an upgrade on everything Tottenham have got there. “Maddison won’t play this season and they have missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White. “So the fact that they’re playing their interest in Jack Grealish down, to me, is daft.” Tottenham's 2025 summer transfer window IN: Mohammed Kudus – £55m (West Ham) Mathys Tel – £30m (Bayern Munich) Kavin Danso – £21m (Lens) Luka Vuskovic – £12m (Hajduk Split) Kota Takai – £5m (Kawasaki Frontale) Joao Palhinha – LOAN (Bayern Munich) OUT: Heung-min Son – £19.3m (LA FC) Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – £17m (Marseille) Mikey Moore – LOAN (Rangers) Alfie Devine – LOAN (Preston) Min-hyeok Yang – LOAN (Portsmouth) Alejo Veliz – LOAN (Rosario Central) Spurs have an option to buy Palhinha for £26m next summer. He joined Bayern from Fulham for £46.5 only a year ago but only made six starts for the German championsGetty Midfield needs work Doubts have been raised over Spurs’ move for Palhinha, considering his lack of regular action at Bayern Munich following his move from Fulham, where he established himself as one of the top midfielders in the country. Deeney doesn’t share those doubts, insisting he instantly upgrades Tottenham’s midfield, but admits they still lack balance in the middle. “Tottenham need to figure out what that midfield looks like, and I don’t think Paulinho is a gamble,” he said. “When we’ve done Spurs games I’ve always been worried about their midfield. I don’t know who their holder is, who their enforcer is. I think you know what you’re getting with Paulinho. He’s proper. “I get that he hasn’t played as much and he’s not in that vein of form, but I don’t think he’s put any miles on the clock in Germany and he’s not injured. “He’s a great player and in my opinion he’s an upgrade on Rodrigo Bentancur.” Deeney still has major question marks over whether this Tottenham squad can compete in the Champions League this seasonGetty Good enough for Champions League? Tottenham’s Europa League victory booked them a spot in this season’s Champions League, but are they ready to return to Europe’s top table? The honest a

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Tottenham called out by Troy Deeney over ‘daft’ transfer decision

Tottenham are ‘daft’ to pass up the chance to sign Jack Grealish this summer, says Troy Deeney.

The talkSPORT pundit says the Spurs squad still needs major surgery to be competitive this season – particularly after losing two key first-team players.

Grealish knows his Man City career is over, and has been linked with moves to Tottenham, Everton and West Ham this summer

New manager Thomas Frank was dealt a major blow this week, with news he will be without starting No.10 and vice captain James Maddison for the entire campaign.

The England midfielder suffered an ACL injury in a pre-season game against Newcastle in South Korea, and is now set for surgery before a long rehab process.

The same game also saw the final ever appearance of Heung-min Son in a Tottenham shirt, with the club captain leaving the north London club after ten years to sign for LA FC in Major League Soccer.

While Spurs haven’t exactly been quiet in the transfer window, fans are expecting a number of major arrivals before the September 1 deadline – no doubt Frank will, too.

Mohammed Kudus has arrived from West Ham in a deal worth £55m, while Mathys Tel’s loan from Bayern Munich was made permanent to boost their attacking options.

Joao Palhinha has also arrived on loan from Bayern to bolster the midfielder, while Kevin Danso’s loan from Lens was turned into a full-time deal, and young defenders Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai have also arrived.

As for outgoings, Tottenham made around £19.3million [an MLS-record $26m fee] on Son, as well as around £17m in a deal to sell Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Marseille.

But after losing Maddison to major injury and also missing out on top target Morgan Gibbs-White, who u-turned on his wish to leave Nottingham Forest to then sign a new contract at the City Ground, Deeney insists they need more.

Grealish has been strongly linked with a move to White Hart Lane this summer, although the club has since distanced themselves from a possible move for the Man City outcast.

And Deeney can’t understand why, saying it would be a ‘perfect’ fit.

Deeney doesn’t understand why Tottenham aren’t interested in Grealish

Grealish would bring title-winning experience to a Tottenham side aiming for more silverware after ending their long wait with the Europa League trophy last season

“With Maddison going down, they have to look at that No.10,” the former Premier League striker told talkSPORT.

“I still think it’s a perfect landing spot for Jack Grealish, personally. I think it’s a wonderful landing spot.

“We’re being told Tottenham have played down their interest in Jack, but you’re talking about someone who has won.

“Whatever people want to say about Jack, he’s been at City, he’s used to winning, he knows the level, knows the standard, and he’s an upgrade on everything Tottenham have got there.

“Maddison won’t play this season and they have missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White.

“So the fact that they’re playing their interest in Jack Grealish down, to me, is daft.”

Tottenham's 2025 summer transfer window

IN:

Mohammed Kudus – £55m (West Ham)

Mathys Tel – £30m (Bayern Munich)

Kavin Danso – £21m (Lens)

Luka Vuskovic – £12m (Hajduk Split)

Kota Takai – £5m (Kawasaki Frontale)

Joao Palhinha – LOAN (Bayern Munich)

OUT:

Heung-min Son – £19.3m (LA FC)

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – £17m (Marseille)

Mikey Moore – LOAN (Rangers)

Alfie Devine – LOAN (Preston)

Min-hyeok Yang – LOAN (Portsmouth)

Alejo Veliz – LOAN (Rosario Central)

Spurs have an option to buy Palhinha for £26m next summer. He joined Bayern from Fulham for £46.5 only a year ago but only made six starts for the German champions

Midfield needs work

Doubts have been raised over Spurs’ move for Palhinha, considering his lack of regular action at Bayern Munich following his move from Fulham, where he established himself as one of the top midfielders in the country.

Deeney doesn’t share those doubts, insisting he instantly upgrades Tottenham’s midfield, but admits they still lack balance in the middle.

“Tottenham need to figure out what that midfield looks like, and I don’t think Paulinho is a gamble,” he said.

“When we’ve done Spurs games I’ve always been worried about their midfield. I don’t know who their holder is, who their enforcer is. I think you know what you’re getting with Paulinho. He’s proper.

“I get that he hasn’t played as much and he’s not in that vein of form, but I don’t think he’s put any miles on the clock in Germany and he’s not injured.

“He’s a great player and in my opinion he’s an upgrade on Rodrigo Bentancur.”

Deeney still has major question marks over whether this Tottenham squad can compete in the Champions League this season

Good enough for Champions League?

Tottenham’s Europa League victory booked them a spot in this season’s Champions League, but are they ready to return to Europe’s top table?

The honest answer is, according to Deeney, no. Not currently.

The former Watford star added: “I think it’s a really difficult time for Spurs – can this team compete in the Champions League?

“You look at the two centre-halves, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, if they’re fit and available, that’s solid. That’s very, very good. But are they fit and available enough?

“Then you’ve got Radu Dragusin, who is already injured, and Kevin Danso. He’s done nothing wrong, but he was going to Wolves last year. Let’s call it as it is. He was going to Wolves for a reason.

“If you had to play those two in the Champions League game, I think you’re in trouble.

Frank has a big job on his hands to make Tottenham competitive in the Champions League and in the Premier League, following their 17th place finish last season

“The full-backs are questionable. Where’s Jed Spence going to play? Is he going to be your number one? Is Pedro Poro going to be your number one right-back? I’m not sure.

“The goalkeeper, I’m definitely not sure on, personally.

“And what’s going to happen with Richarlison? Because it was thought he was leaving.

“It must be really difficult for Thomas Frank, because he can’t move anyone out because no one wants to buy these players because of their injury records – a lot of Spurs players were injured last year – 13 at one point.

“And because they can’t get the players out, he can’t get the people that he wants in, so he’s probably going to have to work with what he’s got.”