Tottenham transfer news: Tottenham have been monitoring Villarreal forward Georges Mikautadze, according to TEAMtalk, which values the Georgian international at roughly €40m (£33m). The report describes watching rather than bidding, so no formal approach has surfaced.

The fee looks reasonable against his record. Villarreal paid Lyon around £27m in 2025, and the 26-year-old repaid them with 13 La Liga goals and six assists last season, before scoring off the bench against Levante in September.

What Mikautadze would bring to De Zerbi’s side

His best quality is flexibility. Mikautadze can lead the line or start on the left and cut inside; he finishes cleanly, and he presses hard, which suits a coach who wants possession won high up the pitch. His link play also gives a forward line someone who connects with the midfield.

The drawbacks are physical. He stands 5ft9in and won fewer than a quarter of his aerial duels in La Liga last season, so he offers little as a target for long balls or at set pieces. Fewer than half of his dribbles succeeded, too.

Spurs need goals from somewhere. De Zerbi’s side sit 11th on 12 points after 10 games, with only 10 goals scored, and a 1-0 defeat at Leeds on 7 November ended a run of three straight wins.

Tottenham transfer news: Should Tottenham make Mikautadze a priority?

Yes, but with a clear idea of what he solves. At £33m, Mikautadze costs far less than the £44m to £52m figures attached to him in earlier reports, and Villarreal’s own purchase price shows how quickly his value has risen. That makes the risk manageable for a club still chasing consistency. At 26, he can also be resold without a heavy loss, which matters at that price.

The deeper question is whether Tottenham’s problem is finishing or creation. Their slow start featured few clear openings, and Mikautadze helps most by finding pockets, pulling defenders out and pressing from the front. He will not win knockdowns, so Spurs should pair him with a taller striker rather than rely on him alone at number nine.

De Zerbi’s possession-based approach can hide his aerial limits, which is why the move makes sense. I would push the deal, provided the budget also covers a creator behind him. Without that, Mikautadze becomes another finisher waiting for service.