TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey, understands that Tottenham are sad to miss out on Eberechi Eze, but Arsenal’s hijack didn’t come as a big shock. The 27-year-old has been on the radar of both North London clubs in this window, with the Gunners holding talks with his agents at the very start of the summer.

Just hours before Arsenal clinched a deal for Eberechi Eze, in an even crueller twist, Tottenham Hotspur finally put in the offer they felt would be acceptable to Crystal Palace. There had been a verbal agreement.