Friday marks the start of a summer of football as Euro 2024 gets underway in Germany. It’s not just the Euros that will be taking place over the next month, however, as the Copa America in the United States commences on Thursday, June 20.
A handful of Tottenham players will be involved in the tournaments, with Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg the club’s representatives taking part in Euro 2024. In terms of the Copa America, Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso will be on Argentina duty and Rodrigo Bentancur will be pulling on the shirt of Uruguay.
As ever, the two major tournaments will undoubtedly lead to summer transfers for a host of players. So are there any players at Euro 2024 that Ange Postecoglou, Johan Lange and Tottenham should maybe be keeping an eye on? football.london takes a look below.
Eberechi Eze (England)
Eberechi Eze will be looking to make a huge name for himself at the Euros this summer after once again starring for Crystal Palace. The 25-year-old does look destined to seal a big-money move away from Selhurst Park at some point down the line, with Tottenham, who do like the England international, one of the clubs heavily linked with a move for the exciting player.
Eze may have to settle for a place on Gareth Southgate’s England bench for now but he is a wonderful option to bring on in the second half if the Three Lions need to make things happen in the final third. Tottenham already know an awful lot about the ex-QPR man due to his sublime form in the Premier League but they may want to keep a very close eye on him in Germany this summer.
A big tournament for his country and a few more clubs may be looking at clinching Eze’s signature.
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Johan Bakayoko (Belgium)
Tottenham have already re-signed Timo Werner on loan for next season but they may want to look at bringing in another winger to bolster Postecoglou’s squad. As Bryan Gil will very likely move on for good and there are question marks over Manor Solomon, an additional winger would ensure that the Lilywhites have strength in depth out wide.
It could be a big tournament for Belgium ace Johan Bakayoko after a rather impressive season in a PSV shirt. The right-winger contributed with 14 goals and 14 assists from his 48 appearances in all competitions, bettering the nine goals and six assists he registered the previous season.
Bakayoko featured regularly for Belgium in qualifying for the Euros and he will have a role to play for manager Domenico Tedesco in Germany, although he may have to make do with a place on the bench to begin with as the Red Devils do have excellent options in Leandro Trossard and Jeremy Doku down the wings. Chances should come his way, though, and he will be intent on taking them with both hands and replicating the form he has displayed in the Eredivisie.
Nico Williams (Spain)
One winger who Tottenham should be keeping very close tabs on is Spain star Nico Williams. Much will be expected of the Athletic Bilbao man in the tournament after a very good season in La Liga.
The youngster was an instrumental figure for Bilbao in the 2023/24 campaign following 25 goals involvements (eight goals, 17 assists) in 37 games. One of those assists came in the Copa del Rey final as Athletic Bilbao triumphed over Real Mallorca.
On the international stage, Williams has two goals and five assists to his name from 14 appearances for Spain. Those numbers could continue to grow for the left-winger as Spain will be expected to progress from their group and go far in the tournament.
Milos Kerkez (Hungary)
Tottenham may need to look at bringing in a new left-back this summer as they need to ensure that they have sufficient cover when Destiny Udogie is absent. The Lilywhites unfortunately do not have a like-for-like replacement for the Italian and it is telling when he is not in the team.
After a good first season in the Premier League with Bournemouth, left-back Milos Kerkez will now be representing Hungary at the Euros. The 20-year-old featured regularly for the Cherries last campaign and he could well take his game up another level next season with 12 months of Premier League experience under his belt.
Kerkez contributed with one assist in his debut season for Bournemouth but prior to his switch to the south coast he chipped in with five goals and seven assists for AZ Alkmaar in the 2022/23 season. The Vrbas-born ace would suit Postecoglou’s system as he is an attack-minded player who is comfortable on the ball.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
Xavi Simons could well be one of the standout players of Euro 2024 after an incredible season on loan in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. After making the temporary switch from PSG, the Dutchman was on the scoresheet ten times and he also laid on 15 assists for his teammates.
Splitting his time on both wings for RB Leipzig over the course of the campaign, the 21-year-old will certainly go into the tournament in confident mood after scoring his first Netherlands goals in Monday’s 4-0 win over Iceland. Appearing set to head out on loan again next term with Bayern Munich and Barcelona reportedly keen on the Dutch ace, Simons would be perfect for Tottenham and a number of other Premier League clubs.
Lois Openda (Belgium)
Tottenham do need to purchase a new striker this summer and Lois Openda would certainly fit the bill. Fresh from joining RB Leipzig from RC Lens for a reported fee of €43million (£36.2m) plus €6million (£5m) in add-ons, the German club would be able to make a tidy profit on a player who scored goals for fun in 2023/24.
The 24-year-old plundered 28 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions and he also managed to contribute with seven assists. A player blessed with pace and an incredible appetite to find the net, Openda also has the physical attributes and work rate that would make him a hit in the Premier League.
He could really thrive in Postecoglou’s Tottenham team and be the striker they dearly need after Harry Kane’s transfer to Bayern Munich last August. However, he would cost a substantial fee for Leipzig to even consider parting with him.
Despite finding himself behind Romelu Lukaku in the pecking order for Belgium, opportunities should be there for him at the Euros as the Red Devils look to go far.
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