Tottenham Hotspur are moving on multiple fronts this summer as Roberto De Zerbi looks to reshape his squad following his appointment as head coach.
The north London club have been strongly linked with West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, who is available following the Hammers’ relegation from the Premier League.
West Ham reportedly need to raise £150m after dropping into the Championship, meaning Fernandes could command a fee as high as £80m this summer.
That would represent a huge profit on the Portuguese playmaker, who joined the east London club for closer to £40m just a year ago.
Alongside Manchester United, Spurs have made calls regarding a possible move for the 21-year-old, who is considered a top priority by De Zerbi.
However, Tottenham are also pursuing a potentially cheaper and younger alternative in the form of Belgian teenager Nathan De Cat of Anderlecht.
According to TEAMtalk, ENIC have already opened club-to-club talks with Anderlecht after scouting the 17-year-old extensively over recent months.
Spurs are considered one of De Cat’s “most active suitors,” with Manchester United also keeping close tabs on the highly-rated youngster.
The Belgian Pro League starlet could cost around £34m, a figure that would represent a record sale for Anderlecht if a deal is completed.
Journalist Bence Bocsak has described De Cat as “one of the best young midfielders around in Europe right now,” which is a remarkable assessment for a player still weeks away from his 18th birthday.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig has also praised the teenager, saying he “plays with the maturity and composure of someone far beyond his years” and is tipped to become “a leader at an absolute top club one day.”
De Cat started 34 Pro League games last season, contributing three goals and four assists from a deep-lying midfield role, while averaging 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game.
He has already made 53 first-team appearances for Anderlecht, scoring and assisting nine times in total before turning 18 next month.
For context, Fernandes did not even make his senior debut for Sporting until after he had already turned 18, underlining just how advanced De Cat is for his age.
Transfermarkt have already identified De Cat as the fifth-most valuable player in the entire Belgian Pro League and the most valuable player at Anderlecht.
Spurs have a strong recent track record of recruiting elite young midfielders, with both Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall arriving at the club back in 2024.
Last summer, Tottenham also raided West Ham to sign Mohammed Kudus for £55m, and they appear ready to dip into the same pool again for Fernandes.
De Cat is described as an orchestrator rather than a high-octane ball-winner, bringing silk and elegance to his number six role as he runs the show from deep.
While the £34m asking price may seem steep for a player not yet 18, it could look like outstanding value compared to Fernandes’ potential £80m price tag.
De Zerbi’s ambition in the transfer market is becoming increasingly clear, with Tottenham pursuing both established talents and the brightest emerging prospects across Europe.