Tottenham locked in transfer battle with Aston Villa over €80m-rated Turkish “Golden Boy” as scouts tag him an urgent target.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing a Turkey international attacking midfielder, according to a report that also explains why Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is keen on the player and names a third Premier League club monitoring the situation.

Spurs have been busy in the January transfer window, completing the signings of former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid and Brazilian left-back Souza from Santos. They have also secured young striker Mason Melia from St Patrick’s Athletic.

Aston Villa have also strengthened this month, bringing in Brazilian winger Alysson from Gremio and teenage forward Brian Madjo from Metz. Villa were disappointed to miss out on Gallagher, having been confident of completing a deal before Thomas Frank’s Tottenham stepped in.

Now, Tottenham and Villa appear to be set for another transfer battle, this time over Turkey international attacking midfielder Can Uzun of Eintracht Frankfurt.

According to Sports Boom, there is a “major transfer war” among Premier League clubs for the 20-year-old, who has been described as the new “Golden Boy of European football”. Scouts from both Tottenham and Villa are said to be highly impressed with Uzun. His recent Champions League display against Qarabag reportedly led scouts to upgrade his status to an “immediate priority” for the upcoming transfer window.

Unai Emery is viewed as a significant rival in the pursuit of Uzun, with the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain manager reportedly captivated by the midfielder’s football intelligence. Emery believes the Turkish star could become a key part of his Villa setup, with club scouts watching him regularly throughout the season.

Frankfurt, however, are under no pressure to sell and are said to value Uzun at around €80 million (£69.4m, $93.8m). The midfielder has recorded eight goals and four assists in 20 appearances for Frankfurt this season. In the 2024/25 campaign, he scored five goals and provided three assists in 31 matches across all competitions.

Newcastle United are also interested in Uzun, according to the same report. Unlike Tottenham and Villa, who are targeting him for an immediate first-team role, Newcastle are reportedly viewing the youngster as a long-term investment, believing he has the potential to develop into a global star. The Magpies are keen to move early before competition increases and his valuation rises.

Uzun is contracted to Eintracht Frankfurt until the summer of 2029, having joined the Bundesliga side in 2024.