Tottenham Hotspur eyeing Maxime Esteve as Burnley refuse to cede ground
Tottenham continue to assess options to bolster their central defence this summer, and Maxime Estève’s name has resurfaced on the radar. The young French centre-back has made a strong impression since arriving in the Premier League, drawing attention from several top-flight clubs. Spurs have been tracking his development closely and even made an approach in January, only to be rebuffed as Burnley were unwilling to part ways mid-season.
Now, the path remains just as difficult. With new manager Scott Parker keen to retain one of his most promising assets, Tottenham could be in for a drawn-out transfer tussle that may stretch deep into the window.
Burnley ready to dig in their heels
According to Pete O’Rourke on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Burnley have slapped a £50 million price tag on Maxime Estève—a valuation that many within Tottenham feel is out of sync with the club’s current financial framework. Spurs would prefer to close a deal in the region of £30–35 million. Everton had previously shown interest in the French defender but, like Spurs, walked away due to the steep asking price.
Estève’s contract, which runs until 2029, puts Burnley in a strong negotiating position, allowing them to demand top dollar. Unless a club submits a firm bid, the 22-year-old is expected to stay at Turf Moor, with Scott Parker keen to build his backline around him. For Tottenham, with Champions League football on the horizon, the question now is whether it’s worth overextending for a promising but still unproven centre-back.
“now Tottenham are being mentioned as contenders for a signature if he leaves Burnley this summer. Spurs did try to sign him in the January window when he was doing so well; Burnley don’t want to lose Esteve, and they’ve put a £50million price tag on his head.“
“I don’t think Spurs would go near that level to try and sign Esteve, but Burnley are in a really strong position to negotiate here. He’s under contract until 2029 and they can demand a substantial fee because of his contract”
Tottenham, the Esteve dilemma and the urgency with Wissa
Tottenham would be unwise to meet Burnley’s £50 million valuation for Maxime Estève. While the 23-year-old is a promising talent with room to grow, he is not yet a guaranteed solution at the highest level. Agreeing to such a fee could disrupt Spurs’ broader transfer strategy, especially with other key areas still needing reinforcement.
With Kudus already secured, the focus should shift to locking in a versatile playmaker like Morgan Gibbs-White and addressing the left-back position. The prudent approach would be to quietly gauge Estève’s willingness to push for a move from the inside. But if Burnley remain firm and the player doesn’t press the issue, Tottenham would be better off moving on, perhaps toward more attainable options like Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Tottenham must also address the growing urgency in their attacking department. Brentford are unwilling to sanction multiple high-profile exits and are expected to part with only one of Bryan Mbeumo or Yoane Wissa. With Manchester United still stalling on a move for Mbeumo, Spurs have a narrow window of opportunity to act decisively for Wissa, before the situation becomes more complicated.
Delaying could mean missing out on a player who would slot in perfectly alongside Son and Kudus, adding pace, directness, and versatility to the forward line. While Tottenham have sharpened their negotiation strategy in recent windows, this is not the time to hesitate. Yes, the defence still requires a young centre-back, but not at the cost of overspending. Strengthening the attack must take priority if the new project is to start on solid footing. With the right balance of patience and ambition, Spurs can secure two key reinforcements without jeopardising their overall budget.
