The Tottenham Hotspur's pre-season is in full swing, and with it, the club's future is being shaped. The focus is on the young talents, the wonderkids, who are set to be assessed by head coach Roberto De Zerbi and his team. The club's recent spending spree in the transfer market has left them with a unique challenge: how to balance the present and the future.
One thing that immediately stands out is the importance of the academy players and the youngsters signed and developed. The absence of European football this season means Tottenham have fewer concerns about the homegrown issues and foreign player overloading that caused them problems in previous campaigns. However, if they intend to return to continental competition in future seasons, they will have to fix this with either academy players coming through or youngsters signed and developed, otherwise they will continue to struggle to register players in the 25-man squad.
De Zerbi will give his assessment, with the help of first team transition coach Stuart Lewis and U21s boss Wayne Burnett among others, on the crop of young players between 17 and 21. The decision has already been made on Luka Vuskovic, who has joined Brighton in a £50million deal, while Alfie Devine has left for Preston after they took up the £6million option in the midfielder's loan deal.
Let's take a look at 11 of those young players, but we're not including established first teamers such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel, who De Zerbi will already know well, or Dane Scarlett, who is now older than 21.
Mikey Moore, the current Scottish Premiership Young Player of the Year, is one to watch. The 18-year-old enjoyed a big season of development at Rangers and has high hopes for him. De Zerbi wants to take a look at the teenager who won the aforementioned Scottish Premiership Young Player of the Year and Rangers' Young Player of the Year awards. Moore enjoyed a big campaign that brought Old Firm Derby goals and 47 matches in total for the Glasgow giants across the season, with 11 goal involvements despite his age.
Another player to watch is Souza, who turned 20 last month. Signed in January, Souza has been adapting to a new country, a new life and a very different league over the past six months. Former Tottenham boss Thomas Frank called Souza 'one of the brightest left-back talents in the world' when he signed. However, with Andy Robertson's arrival and Destiny Udogie, along with Djed Spence being able to play on the left, Souza is likely to be allowed to head out on loan next season to ensure he gets regular football to continue his development.
Will Lankshear, who starred in his first loan spell last season despite Oxford United's relegation from the Championship, is another to watch. The 21-year-old has been spotted by Sporting, Wolves and Southampton, and with such interest, it's likely that De Zerbi will make a decision on his future before the club's summer tour.
Mason Melia, who got back from a back problem and chest infection that delayed his start to life at Spurs after arriving in January, is also in the mix. His next steps could be tied into what happens with Lankshear. It would seem unlikely that De Zerbi would take both on the tour along with Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel, and if one heads off on loan or is sold in Lankshear's case, the other could be kept at the club this season as a homegrown option to learn from the older stars.
Jamie Donley, who had a tougher season this time around after his previous eye-catching exploits at Leyton Orient, is another to watch. The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international has plenty of talent in that left foot and often plays a big part in Spurs pre-season thanks to his versatility, engine and ability on the ball. Donley has been involved with the first team in recent days even if another loan move beckons but he could impress De Zerbi, as a fellow number 10, if he hits the ground running in pre-season.
Yang-min Hyeok, who has only been at Spurs for 18 months but has already been out on three different loans in the Championship, is another to watch. The 20-year-old is probably further off playing for Tottenham than he was when he arrived. De Zerbi will take a look at the tricky winger but it seems likely that another loan move will come Yang's way, with four years left on his contract.
Ashley Phillips, who has been the highest performing forgotten man of the Tottenham defence, is another to watch. The 20-year-old centre-back impressed once again during his second season with Stoke and was among the nominees for the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season award. With two years left on his contract, this summer could be the one when Phillips leaves the club permanently.
Kota Takai, who suffered a foot injury soon after arriving at Spurs last summer and when he returned to fitness months later, was sent out on loan to Borussia Monchengladbach, is another to watch. The Japan international is likely to give De Zerbi a reasonably simple decision to make as the club need to get him out on loan again with regular minutes somewhere to help develop him.
Callum Olusesi, who had a season to remember as he made his Premier League and Champions League debuts against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid respectively, is another to watch. The 19-year-old did not look out of place either in either cameo display under caretaker boss Igor Tudor and will head into pre-season full of confidence. With the number of players in his position in Spurs' first team, a move this summer looks likely.
Luca Williams-Barnett and Jun'ai Byfield, both 17-years-old, are the final two to watch. It's too early for either to head out on a standard loan, but they will both be looking to impress De Zerbi during pre-season for a good reason. If the group of young players aged between 18 and 21 depart this summer on loan or permanently, then Luca Williams-Barnett and Jun'ai Byfield could become the go-to homegrown players when De Zerbi looks to the academy for cover or minutes in the Carabao Cup or FA Cup.
In conclusion, the future of Tottenham Hotspur's wonderkids is in the hands of Roberto De Zerbi and his team. With the club's recent spending spree, they have a unique challenge to balance the present and the future. The decisions made in the coming weeks will shape the club's future, and the world will be watching closely.
