Tottenham transfer news: Eberechi Eze close to a move from Crystal Palace

Eberechi Eze is understood to be closing in on a move to Tottenham.

The PA news agency understands the England international has reached an agreement with current club Crystal Palace that he will not play for them at Chelsea on Sunday.

Eze was a critical player as Palace won the FA Cup last season and also featured as the Eagles saw off Liverpool to lift the Community Shield last weekend.

The 27-year-old – who has long been linked with a move across London – joined Palace in 2020 from QPR and has gone on to win 11 England caps.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank is in need of creativity after chief playmaker James Maddison recently ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and with fellow midfielder Dejan Kulusevski (knee) still sidelined.

After a failed pursuit of Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White last month, Spurs have this week ramped up their transfer activity, opening talks with Manchester City on Monday over the signing of versatile attacker Savinho and now in discussions with Palace over Eze.

Speaking after Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Burnley in their Premier League opener, Frank said: “We are definitely in the market.

“I said it before, Daniel and Johan and Vinai are working relentlessly to try to do their best to improve the squad, but we only want to improve the squad if we can get players in that can improve the squad. I want to keep it like it is.”

Asked about Eze specifically, Frank added: “I have that nice principle that I would like to speak about the players that are in-house, and all the other speculations I don’t want to speak too much about that.”