Well, well, well. Just when Arsenal thought they had a clear run at Hearts striker James Wilson, their neighbors from down the road have decided to crash the party. Tottenham are now in the race for the 18-year-old Scotland international on deadline day.
Spurs boss Thomas Frank promised his side would be "active" on deadline day, and he wasn't kidding. The club appears to be responding to opportunities rather than chasing specific targets, and Wilson definitely fits that description.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano broke the news earlier on Monday that Arsenal had opened talks with Hearts for a loan deal. The young striker has already earned his Scotland cap despite making just eight goals in 45 senior appearances for Hearts. That's pretty impressive for a teenager.
The North London Derby Comes to Scotland
Sky Sports quickly followed up with news that Tottenham have entered the race. They're discussing an initial loan with an option to buy, and Wilson would slot into their Under-21 squad if the deal goes through.
The teenager has only made one league start for Hearts this season, which seems odd considering they're sitting top of the Scottish Premiership. But he made his mark last season with six goals, including a dramatic equalizer against bitter rivals Hibs.
For punters keeping an eye on both clubs, this is an interesting development. Wilson joining either side's youth setup could impact their future squad depth and attacking options. Right now, both Arsenal and Spurs need all the firepower they can get.
Sterling Still Available Too
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Paul Merson is pushing Tottenham to sign Raheem Sterling as a free agent. The former Chelsea winger is available after being released last week.
"They need players in," Merson said on Sky Sports. "I would bring Sterling in. I think it's a no-brainer on a free transfer." With Solanke, Kulusevski and Maddison all dealing with injuries, Merson has a point about Spurs needing reinforcements.
But back to Wilson. This is a classic deadline day scenario where two rivals are going head-to-head. Hearts hold all the cards here, and they'll be loving the attention their young striker is getting. Whoever wins this race gets a promising talent who's already proven himself at international level despite his age.
