It has been a pretty sizeable few days in terms of Tottenham Hotspur’s incomings and outgoings.
To the tune of £65 million, former AFC Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke becomes the most expensive signing in Spurs’ entire history.
And after netting 19 Premier League goals last season, surely Tottenham will avoid a repeat of that sorry Tanguy Ndombele situation with a proven, top-flight hitman.
£63 million forgotten man Ndombele, meanwhile, saw his Tottenham contract terminated in July. He has since been followed out the door by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Emerson Royal.
Two departures which could earn Tottenham a cool £30 million, the former presented at Marseille on Monday and the latter unveiled by AC Milan 24 hours later.
Alejo Veliz also departs have struggled for game time under Ange Postecoglou.
His situation, however, is a little different to that of Hojbjerg and Emerson; a 20-year-old youngster hoping to kick-start his development rather than a senior player aiming to recapture the glory of happier times.
Tottenham Hotspur send Alejo Veliz to Espanyol on loan
This is already Veliz’s second loan spell away from Spurs. And his second in La Liga, too.
The £13 million signing from Rosario Central failed to hit the target in only 31 minutes of La Liga action with Sevilla in the second half of last term, however. Surely things can only get better for Veliz at newly-promoted Espanyol.
The words of Fran Garagarza, Espanyol’s sporting director, certainly bode well.
“We had been following Alejo since his performance at the Under-20 World Cup,” Garagarza tells Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan-based outfit finally landing a forward they began scouting in May 2023.
“I didn’t think we would have any chance (of signing Veliz), but it happened. We moved ahead of other clubs and Tottenham understood that we are going to give him significant coverage in terms of playing time.
“They see this as a good destination to increase the value of their player. He will bring enthusiasm and character.”
Veliz, like Man United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, was barely given a chance at a Seville side battling against the tide of relegation. Espanyol appear far more willing to put their faith on his young shoulders, however, handing him the number nine shirt.
Permanent stay in La Liga already ruled out
Veliz, via Mundo Deportivo, opened up on the talks he had with head coach Manolo Gonzalez. The Espanyol boss feels he can be a ‘reference’ point in attack capable of leading the line and bringing others into play with his 6ft 1ins frame.
But unlike Hojbjerg – who can join Marseille in 2025 for £17 million – there is no option or obligation-to-buy clause in Veliz’s contract.
Espanyol simply could not afford him.
“Signing forwards is very complicated. And, with the limitations we have, even more so,” adds Garagarza, his side also bringing in former West Ham midfielder Alex Kral from Union Berlin and Irvin Cardona from Augsburg.
“They are three players who come from three big clubs. (Signing) each of them was hard. We must also thank those clubs because they have helped us a lot, even though the negotiations have been long. All three were objectives that we have been working hard on for several months.”
“All three have arrived on loan because we do not have the capacity to keep these players (permanently). This season, they will be with us. And then we will see where we go in each case.”
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