Spurs weigh up ‘insane’ £50m Akliouche punt as the deadline looms

Tottenham are flirting with a late-window curveball, with Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche emerging as a potential target as the clock ticks towards the deadline. It’s not one that’s roaring down the track, but senior reporter Ben Jacobs has floated the idea that Spurs could make a move if the numbers work — and in this market, that’s a very big if.

Why Akliouche — and why now?

Simple: injuries have nibbled away at Ange Postecoglou’s wide options and Tottenham are scanning for short-notice solutions. Akliouche is a right-sided specialist who can flip to the left, a neat technician with a change of pace and a tidy final ball. The snag? Spurs’ long-term blueprint is a left-sided attacker. So while Akliouche ticks plenty of boxes, he’s not the archetype they’ve been building towards — more a shrewd opportunist play if the door opens.

What Ben Jacobs is hearing

Speaking on the Market Madness podcast, Jacobs suggested Tottenham won’t land long-standing favourites Savinho or Yan Diomande before the window shuts, but that an Akliouche deal could creep into contention. The logic is clear enough: if the fee is sensible, he plugs a gap now and offers versatility later — but once the squad heals up, he’d likely be nudged centrally or shifted left, away from his preferred right flank.

The price, the profile, the buzz

Akliouche has been tagged at around the £50 million price point and is under contract at Monaco until 2028. He’s been praised as “insane” by talent spotters and has put together a tidy campaign, chipping in with goals and assists while showcasing the kind of elasticity modern wide men need. For a club that wants thrust without sacrificing structure, you can see why he’s on the whiteboard.

Where the priorities really lie

Make no mistake: Tottenham’s recruitment compass still points left. That’s the profile they’ve earmarked for the next evolution of this attack. Akliouche would be a clever play if the market breaks Spurs’ way, but this isn’t Football Manager. Value, fit, and timing have to align — particularly with home stretch fixtures piling up and squad balance under the microscope.

Elsewhere in the window

The report also flags further ins and outs being explored before the shut-off, including cover between the sticks should there be a loan departure. One name mentioned as under consideration on the goalkeeping front is Sam Johnstone. As ever, there’s plenty of jostling late in January — but expect pragmatism over panic.

If you’re tracking the odds and the whispers as the window closes, you’ll find plenty to chew on across the best betting sites. Just remember: the market moves, but Tottenham’s plan remains steady — opportunistic when it suits, committed to a left-sided attacker when the right deal lands.

Bottom line: Akliouche would be a lively addition and a canny hedge against injuries, but unless Monaco blink on price, Spurs are likelier to keep their powder dry and stick to the bigger picture.