Tottenham learn Nico Paz wishes after Como react to £60m opening bid
Tottenham have had an opening bid for Argentine midfielder Nico Paz turned down by Como.
Thomas Frank is hoping to add a creative midfielder to his options before the window closes next week, after Arsenal hijacked a Spurs move for Eberechi Eze.
Paz has been identified as a promising alternative, the midfielder establishing himself among Europe’s most exciting young players last season.
John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News that the deal will be a difficult one to pull off, however, with Real Madrid holding a buyback clause.
Nico Paz wants to stay for Real Madrid after £60million bid
Paz kicked off his season in terrific fashion on Sunday, 24 August, scoring and providing an assist in a 2-0 Como win over Lazio.
Cesc Fabregas’ team enjoyed a superb campaign in Serie A last season, finishing 10th – their best finishing position in the Italian top flight since the 1987/88 season.
Paz, who joined for around £5million from Real Madrid last summer, was key. The Argentina international scored six goals and provided nine assists in his first-ever season of regular first-team football.
The 20-year-old is a traditional number 10, picking up the ball between the lines to spin away from his opposing defender and feeding the ball through to his striker, or taking the shot on himself.
| Nico Paz | Serie A 2024/25 (per 90) |
| Progressive passes | 5.57 |
| Shots | 3.68 |
| Shot-creating actions | 4.95 |
| Successful take-ons | 2.34 |
Born in Spain but choosing to represent Argentina, Paz made his debut for Lionel Scaloni’s team last year and is expected to play a leading role in the future for the World Cup holders.
Fabrizio Romano reported on 24 August that Spurs’ bid for the talent was worth £60m, which was turned down by Como.
Paz would prefer to stay in Italy before a potential return to Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants set to match any proposal accepted by Serie A side.
Xabi Alonso’s side have a £8.6m buy-back clause inserted in the midfielder’s contract that will take effect next summer.
Therefore, it makes no sense to reject this Tottenham bid, as Como could bank up to £50m more from Madrid if they were to simply accept the proposal from North London, which would be matched.
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Back to the drawing board for Tottenham
Tottenham desperately need to sign a creative midfielder in the closing week of the transfer window.
Long-term injuries to both James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have left Frank’s side lacking any attacking presence in midfield, with neither player expected to return before January.
But efforts to sign Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers and now Paz have appeared to return fruitless.
Who Tottenham turn to now is unclear, but decision-makers at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium must make it quick.
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