Spurs are in talks with the club to sign the £34m star

Those at the London Stadium must be sick of seeing Tottenham Hotspur, the Lilywhites look set to pounce on their city rivals for the second summer in a row.

Last year, the north London club signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United in a £55m deal, with the club having since joined the race for current Hammers star Mateus Fernandes and Manchester United.

There appears to be interest in signing the Portuguese and Sandro Tonali, even with Roberto De Zerbi already boasting two star, young midfielders in the form of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Fernandes, who is only 21 years old, appears to be a priority for new manager De Zerbi, although he is not the only target this summer.

Spurs are already in club-to-club talks to sign Fernandes’ alternative

As reported this week, Spurs have made calls about a possible move for Fernandes, the Southampton man who looks set to take over following West Ham’s recent sacking.

The east London club are reportedly in need of £150m following that second-tier drop, with Fernandes set to fetch around £80m.

That would represent a huge return on a player they signed for close to £40m last year, with Spurs likely to have cheaper alternatives in mind.

According to TEAMtalk, among those being considered are Belgian midfielder Nathan De Cat, with Tottenham said to be one of their ‘active suitors’, as well as the likes of Man Utd.

According to the report, ENIC have already opened talks with De Cat’s current club, Anderlecht, ahead of a potential move, as they have already scouted him “extensively”.

Still only 17 years old, the in-demand talent can cost an estimated €40m (£34m), a figure that would represent a club record sale for a Belgian Pro League side.

Why De Cat would be a bigger talent than Fernandes

As mentioned, Spurs have been no strangers to exciting, long-term on-field signings, with Gray and Bergvall already set to join the club in 2024.

Both Fernandes and De Cat would also fit the bill, although he may represent an even bigger coup, with journalist Bence Bocsak hailing him as “one of the best midfielders in Europe right now”.

This is a statement from a player who is only 17 years old, four years younger than the West Ham man, yet De Cat has just completed an incredible season for his country.

While he bounced back in 2024/25, scoring once in six league games, the £34m star enjoyed a more consistent run in the side last season, starting 34 Pro League games.

That consistent season saw him chip in with six goals and assists, just shy of Fernandes’ return, while creating three ‘big chances’ from the midfielder.

What is also encouraging is that, in the opinion of talent scout Jacek Kulig, he “plays with the maturity and composure of someone beyond his years”, said to be “a leader at the top club one day”.

He has made 53 first-team appearances, scoring and assisting nine times, before he turns 18 next month. In comparison, Fernandes did not make his sporting debut until he was 18 years old.

That speaks to how De Cat is viewed and matured, as Transfermarkt already rates him as the fifth most valuable player in the Pro League, and the most valuable player at Anderlecht.

Watching him play again, there is a silkiness and beauty to his game that is worth asking for, he walks around the park in his sixth role, running the show with depth.

Fernandes may fit the Tonali mold as a high-octane, do-it-all midfielder, but De Cat is cut from a different cloth, an orchestrator rather than necessarily a ball-winning beast.

That’s not to say he doesn’t give anything away from the ball, boasting 2.7 goals per game last season, it’s easy to see why he craves it.

Of course, asking £34m for a player who is yet to turn 18 could be seen in some ways, but that figure could be a hefty sum, especially in relation to Fernandes’ potential asking price.