The £90m star is very keen to join Spurs

What a summer we are turning into for Tottenham Hotspur who were almost relegated.

Although football is not played on paper, Spurs look like they are already very strong. Any thought of another battle of attrition is now well and truly over.

The Lilywhites have signed a number of defenders such as Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, and there was even room to add Martin Dubravka.

There was also the small matter of a combined £185m spent on Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. The next one would be the wing and it would be Rafael Leao.

How do you compare Rafael Leao to Tottenham's winger targets

After breaking their transfer record to sign Tonali, you'd be forgiven for thinking the bags were empty at Tottenham.

Alas, Roberto De Zerbi isn't done spending his money, and while another club-record deal may not be in the offing, it is thought that a significant amount of money could be spent to improve the front line.

Leao is one of Spurs' main targets and talks are said to have been held between Tottenham and the player's camp. He's not the only player on their radar, though.

Cody Gakpo, Savinho and RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa are all said to be interested, but who should be first choice?

Well, if you're looking for someone who has the power and experience of Premier League football, Cody Gakpo is your man. Although Savinho scored just seven goals in his first two seasons with Manchester City, the Liverpool star scored 27 goals in the same period. The Dutchman is very productive.

He is more prosperous than Nusa and even Leao. The Norwegian striker has netted nine times in the last two seasons. Leao has scored 22 so he is very similar when it comes to scoring goals.

Based on quality and consistency alone, the AC Milan winger would be an excellent capture. He has scored ten or more goals in the last five seasons but, and this is a big but, he has never played for England before. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a failure, but it will mean you'll take longer to adapt.

That's why Gakpo or Savinho could be a wise spend this summer. That said, there's even more talent on their shortlist and there's a real chance he'll join them this summer.

Why Spurs need to prioritize the £90m Premier League star

Three years ago, Harry Kane left Tottenham. The unimaginable finally happened and it's been downhill ever since. Heung-min Son's exit last year didn't help either.

Without them, Spurs lack star power, lack a talisman, an icon that can shoot them to praise. In Tonali, De Zerbi may have found a player who can replicate their influence, but he is not a striker, he will not inspire the team with his goals.

Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi will play. The French striker has been the subject of interest from a number of clubs this summer, most notably Arsenal.

However, Tottenham are on the table and according to TEAMtalk at the weekend, the Londoners have a renewed belief that they will be able to sign Kroupi this summer.

That's because, despite PSG being seen as a dream target, the Cherries striker is not willing to join them if he is forced to become a team player behind Ousmane Dembele and Co. Fair enough, right? He needs to play normal football at his age to continue developing the way he is doing.

As a result, Spurs have swooped on the 19-year-old and it is thought that he finds the idea of ​​joining De Zerbi's club very attractive. Previous reports put the asking price at £90m.

So, why would he be a better player than Leao and what would he bring to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? Well, it's safe to say that this is one of the best young players in the world right now. As a young person, he is already achieving things that his older peers would only aspire to achieve.

Last season this young player scored 13 goals. No teenager in his first Premier League season has scored more goals. To put that number in context, Leao's number has been hit three times, but not by much despite his age.

The 27-year-old scored 14 in 2021/22, 16 in 2022/23 and 15 in 2023/24. Kroupi, however, has real world-class power. If he hasn't already, this is a great player.

It's not often that we see a player adapt to that moment so quickly in the life of the Premier League. He joined Bournemouth last year and did so after playing in Ligue 2 for Lorient.

What separates Kroupi from Leao is not just his strength or finishing ability, but his flexibility as well. This is a player who can thrive as a striker, as he is more than 10 or more sides. The fact that he can do it at such a young age is amazing and he will get better in every role.

At Bournemouth last term, the flamboyant Frenchman scored seven goals in 19 appearances as a striker and 6 in 16 as a second striker/number 10. The year before that, he found the net seven times in six games winning at left back.

Highly versatile, an incredibly composed finisher and a player with incredible power, investing in the 19-year-old Leao certainly makes sense this summer.