Long-serving Arsenal attacker emerges as surprise pawn in Tottenham transfer: report
Tottenham Hotspur may be handed a favour by Arsenal in the transfer market, as they shop for an attacker to complete their frontline.
The North London rivals had contrasting campaigns last season, with Tottenham scraping relegation with survival secured on the final day, while Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy.
But with the Gunners and the Lilywhites looking to strengthen this summer, one Hale End attacker could prove to be the key man in Spurs landing a top forward.
Tottenham Hotspur looking at star forward – with long-time Arsenal man on the move
Arsenal are biding their time in the transfer market this summer, with FourFourTwo understanding that the Premier League champions are refusing to budge on their internal valuations of targets, as sporting director Andrea Berta looks to strengthen across the side.
Spurs, meanwhile, have already completed several signings in goal, in defence and midfield, with Norwegian hero Andreas Schjelderup – who scored against England in the World Cup quarter-finals – eyed to fill Roberto De Zerbi’s left-wing role.
The £43 million Benfica man moving to the Premier League would have a knock-on effect, according to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, with new boss Marco Silva trying to convince Schjelderup to stay in Lisbon.
The report states, however, that should the star depart the Primeira Liga, Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson is high on Silva’s wishlist, with the former Fulham gaffer having worked with the 26-year-old at Craven Cottage, during a loan spell in 2024/25.
Nelson started Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge of Arsenal in 2019, and has sporadically appeared across the Basque’s tenure, most notably netting a 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth in 2023 when the North Londoners were on course forthe title – though injuries have limited his development, with the former England youth player going on loan not just to Fulham, but Brentford and Feyenoord since Arteta took the reins.
The winger is the last player still under contract at Arsenal to have appeared under Arsene Wenger – making his first-team Premier League debut in 2018 – and has since played under the likes of Arne Slot and Julian Nagelsmann while out on loan.
Schjelderup’s future appears to be far from straightforward, however, with Benfica president Rui Costa claiming this week that it has “not been communicated to us” that the Norway international will leave Estadio Da Luz.
“[Schjelderup] is on holiday and will soon return to Benfica. As of today, Benfica have not received any proposal,” O Jogo quotes the legendary no.10 as having said.
FourFourTwo understands that Spurs are still also targeting Savinho from Manchester City, with the Brazilian capable of playing on either flank.
Nelson is valued at €8m, as per Transfermarkt.
