There’s something indescribable about the bond that a football club forges with a young man who has successfully made his way from the academy scene to superstardom.
Anyway, I’ll go with this. Tottenham Hotspur are one of the main purveyors of young prospects finding their way to the top level. Spurs’ academy is the cornerstone of the club’s philosophy and Harry Kane is proof of that.
Also plying their trade away from N17 are Noni Madueke and Troy Parrott, both rising stars who once made a name for themselves on the north London senior stage.
However, the emphasis has been clear in recent years, with Tottenham having a number of up-and-coming talent on loan deals elsewhere.
Luka Vuskovic is proof of that, with the 18-year-old signing for the Premier League side in 2023 for an estimated £13m and spending the past two years continuing his development in his native Croatia before arriving and heading straight to Hamburg in Germany this season.
Vuskovic may be the Lilywhites’ most exciting prospect, but he’s not the only one playing elsewhere. Tottenham’s rental strategy is clear.
Spurs loan summary
In September, Vusković received his first cap for the Croatian men’s team. After four games in his Bundesliga career with Hamburger SV, the teenager has shattered expectations, winning nine duels and recovering the ball an average of five times per game (Sofascore).
A threat in the air and a strength that belies his age, Vusković is the future of Tottenham’s defense and the strong partnership between Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero will help him in the future and ease his integration into the Premier League arena.
Meanwhile, Mikey Moore is a talent in a similar position, hailed by Fabrizio Romano as being on the cusp of becoming a ‘superstar’. But he has been struggling against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership since the summer, and the sinking of the ship at Ibrox has put him in a truly hostile situation.
Both players are considered Tottenham’s most promising young players.
It’s not just young people. Manor Solomon, a 26-year-old winger, is on loan in Spain until the end of the season and has made three La Liga appearances for Villarreal, registering a goal and an assist.
However, it is mainly youngsters who fill the loan slots in Spurs’ squad, with midfielder Alfie Devine having made a promising start to life in England’s second tier with Preston North End, with two goals and an assist.
His versatility and technical ability suggest he could still work his way into Tottenham’s plans, and of course he came on as a substitute against non-league Marine in the FA Cup, scoring as a 16-year-old.
Not everyone enjoys the same good fortune. Jamie Donley, 20, is considered to have good playmaking talent but has been on the fringe for Stoke City this season and is yet to make a start in the Championship. Last year, he contributed 19 goals on loan to Leyton Orient.
Stoke also have a talented young centre-half in Ashley Phillips. He may be a forgotten man at Tottenham, but like Vuskovic, he has the potential to cement his place in front of Frank’s vision in the coming years.
Spurs star who could rival Vuskovic
In 2023, Tottenham signed Phillips from Blackburn Rovers for around £3 million. It’s a steep price tag for an 18-year-old, but he was a long-time target and had made 15 appearances for the senior team before his big move.
Still only 20 years old, Phillips started 35 games for Stoke in the Championship last season, winning 60% of his ground battles and making 5.9 clearances per game (data courtesy of Sofascore). He has started each of Stoke’s recent league games, including two draws, but has only started two so far this season.
Vuskovic may be the talk of the town, but Phillips has what it takes to succeed under Frank, with a wealth of Championship experience and playing in a Potters side whose aim this season is promotion, finishing fifth after nine games.
His profile aspires to be placed at the highest level and his skill set is theoretically perfect for Frank’s tactical system. Tony Mowbray, Phillips’ manager at Blackburn, recognized the defender’s potential from the start.
Mowbray said: “He’s a great footballer and I’m sure he’s going to be a big-time footballer, but he’s a very young lad. He’s a guy with great height at 6ft 3, 6ft 4, lightning fast, calm on the ball and aggressive.”
These are all traits needed in a modern defender looking to succeed at the highest level. If Phillips can continue to make progress in the coming months, he could return to Tottenham alongside Vuskovic and rival his junior for a starting spot.
Despite his strengths, Vusković has little potential for error and has won just 47% of his ground battles in Germany so far this season. This is Phillips’ strength and could sway the odds if both jockeys star.
Ashley Phillips – Career Statistics by Club/Level | ||
|---|---|---|
club | app | minutes |
stoke | 46 | 3,828′ |
plymouth | 20 | 1,592′ |
Blackburn U21 | 17 | 1,364′ |
blackburn | 14 | 722 minutes |
Blackburn U18 | 12 | 948′ |
tottenham u21 | 5 | 450 minutes |
Dates via Transfermarkt | ||
It was three years ago that Spurs insider John Wenham hailed Phillips as a “monster” of a young player, drawing attention to his size and mental strength that was evident from the start.
The road to superstardom in the Premier League is long and winding. Phillips and those close to him clearly have wisdom about them and recognize their advantages in playing the long game.
Throughout his teenage years, Kane made short stints on the road before finding his footing in north London. Vuskovic is honing his defensive skills.
Phillips follows the same path. Take a look at this “monster” center back. He may play an important role in the Frank project in the future.
