Tottenham pursuit of £75m striker dented as Arsenal now join the race

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Tottenham Hotspur now face increased competition for the signing of RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda with rivals Arsenal now joining the race.

Tottenham have just landed a new forward in this transfer window, bringing Timo Werner in from RB Leipzig.

Werner is only on loan until the end of the season but Tottenham can turn the move permanent if he impresses.

HITC Football understands that Tottenham will be able to pay around £15.5million to sign Werner at the end of the campaign.

The German has already made an impact, picking up an assist in the 2-2 draw at Manchester United earlier this month.

Tottenham will weigh up whether to keep Werner for the long term, but will also be considering whether to move for one of Werner’s old RB Leipzig teammates…

Arsenal join Tottenham in Lois Openda race

Reports in December suggested that Tottenham had been eyeing up a move for RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda.

The Belgian only joined RB Leipzig over the summer after dazzling for Lens and he has taken that form into German football too.

Openda has smashed 12 goals and four assists in 18 Bundesliga games whilst also bagging four goals in six Champions League outings.

The 23-year-old has the kind of pace that Ange Postecoglou would love but RB Leipzig would allegedly demand around £75million for their star striker.

That would be an incredible price for Tottenham to pay and they now face another hurdle – rival interest from Arsenal.

HITC Football understands that Arsenal went to scout Openda in action against Bayer Leverkusen over the weekend.

The Gunners are in the market for another striker at the end of the season and may be willing to spend big in order to find a top goalscorer.

Openda could be that player and Arsenal’s interest leaves Tottenham to fear about seeing Openda arrive in North London – but on the red side rather than the lily-white.

Arsenal have shown a willingness to strike the big deals in recent times and, if you had to back either Arsenal or Tottenham to splash £75million on a new striker, you would probably back Arsenal.

Tottenham will hope that the Gunners find other targets to focus on, with Arsenal’s interest in Openda presenting a potential unwanted transfer battle for Spurs.