Spurs are being urged to make an early approach for Younes Ebnoutalib, even though the young striker isn’t ready to transform their attack just yet. Andy Brassell, a European football specialist, thinks the uncertainty at Eintracht Frankfurt could let Tottenham land the Germany international at a lower price.
Ebnoutalib’s rise has been rapid. Barely a year and a half ago he was playing in Germany’s fourth tier, and he has now won his first two caps under Jurgen Klopp. After joining Elversberg in January 2025, he hit 12 goals in 17 games at the start of last season, which earned him a reported £6.9 million move to hometown club Frankfurt last December. Injuries slowed his start there, but he has since shown glimpses of his potential, and clubs abroad, Tottenham among them, have taken notice.
Spurs spent more than £200 million this summer after a season spent battling relegation, with Sandro Tonali (£100 million from Newcastle), Mateus Fernandes (£85 million from West Ham) and Jan Paul van Hecke (£52 million from Brighton) the headline arrivals. Even so, the attack looks thin. Will Lankshear has gone to Middlesbrough, Richarlison has been left out of the senior squad, Dominic Solanke has scored once in the league this season, and Omar Marmoush only just ended his goal drought on Monday. Ebnoutalib could therefore be a long-term investment up front.
Brassell told talkSPORT that he admires the forward’s movement and finishing, but stressed that his lack of top-level experience means nobody should expect instant results. He sees an exciting talent with plenty still to learn, and no guarantee yet that he becomes a prolific Premier League scorer.
The opportunity, in Brassell’s view, comes from sporting director Markus Krösche’s departure from Frankfurt. Since arriving in 2021, Krösche helped turn the club into Europa League winners and regular Champions League qualifiers. He also built a reputation for spotting talent, developing it and selling at a big profit, with Willian Pacho, Randal Kolo Muani, Hugo Ekitike and Marmoush among the success stories. That same shrewdness made him a notoriously tough negotiator, and without him Frankfurt may be in a transitional phase where deals are easier to strike.
Brassell also suggested the change could lead some players to question whether Frankfurt is still the right place to develop. The club wants to be seen as a stepping stone for elite young talent, in the mould of Borussia Dortmund or Monaco, but it has at times struggled to land the highly rated prospects needed to get there.
His advice is that Tottenham could sign Ebnoutalib now, then either ease him into the first team or loan him out for experience before bringing him back. That would secure him before his value climbs, and Brassell pointed to Spurs’ handling of Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic as a model for this kind of long-term plan.
Ultimately, Ebnoutalib may not give Tottenham the immediate lift they need. But his potential, Frankfurt’s uncertain position and the chance of a good price make him an appealing option, and the decision may come down to whether Spurs will invest in the future while still chasing more experienced forwards for the present.
