Tottenham are planning to reinforce their midfield unit in the summer.
Tottenham Hotspur are looking for midfield reinforcements amid uncertainty over the futures of several players.
Yves Bissouma is out of contract at the end of the season. It looks unlikely that the board will hand Bissouma a contract extension. Joao Palhinha’s form has been indifferent since the start of 2026, and reports suggest that the Portuguese defensive midfielder’s loan will not be turned into a permanent deal. Pape Matar Sarr is also linked with a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce.
Furthermore, Conor Gallagher has failed to hit the ground running at Spurs after arriving from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window. Given the problems that the Lilywhites have encountered in the middle of the park this season and the uncertain futures of some players, the Hotspur Way chiefs have identified a young talent to bolster this department.
Tottenham send scouts to watch Trabzonspor talent
According to a report from SportsBoom, Tottenham have sent scouts to watch Trabzonspor midfielder Christ Inao Oulai in several games this season. The North Londoners are sending representatives to watch the youngster every week, and they view him as a ‘high-priority’ target. Chelsea, Brighton and Bournemouth are also interested in the player and could rival Tottenham for his services.
Christ Inao Oulai made the move to Trabzonspor last summer in a deal worth just €5.5 million from French side SC Bastia, and he now looks set to smash every transfer record in the history of the club. The one-cap Ivory Coast international, who can operate as both a No.6 and 8, has registered two goals and four assists in 23 games in all competitions.
The young midfielder will not come cheaply. The report adds that Trabzonspor have slapped a €50 million price tag on their prized asset. Oulai is under a long-term contract until the summer of 2030, which is one of the major factors behind Trabzonspor chasing a club-record sale, although they plan to keep him at least one more season.
From Tottenham’s perspective, Oulai fits the mould of signings the club has made in recent years. Due to his rare combination of technical ability, defensive grit, tactical maturity and spatial awareness, he stands as an elite talent with a bright future in the game. Plus, the Ivorian has proven he can influence the game in the final third while fulfilling his primary duties of breaking up play and controlling the tempo of play.
However, the Lilywhites have to preserve their top-flight status if they are to realistically have a chance of signing Trabzonspor’s rising star. Still, it would be difficult to land Oulai, considering the profile of clubs extensively scouting him and interested in his services.