Spurs close in on signing “electrifying” star

Have you ever seen anything quite like it at Tottenham Hotspur? It would appear that very nearly suffering relegation from the Premier League has frigthened them to death.

A successive 17th placed finish has left them reeling but they have so far responded emphatically, throwing the kitchen sink and indeed the bath at the summer window.

They kickstarted things with the arrivals of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers before signing Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m.

There is plenty more to come. Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes now top their shortlist. They are competing with some of the biggest names in England to sign those two. It would be quite the coup if they even got one over the line.

Yet, Roberto De Zerbi is also looking to strengthen out wide.

Spurs close in on signing new winger

Tottenham may well be looking to make a splash in midfield but they they have a shortlist of exciting wingers to bring to north London too.

The primary target right now is Manchester City’s Savinho. Spurs wanted him last summer but were ultimately fruitless in their pursuit. There is a feeling they have a much better chance of getting that one over the line a year on. Talks are already underway.

Cody Gakpo at Liverpool is also of interest and could join former teammate Robertson in the capital. A deal has even been explored for Marcus Rashford. We told you the Lilywhites were planning to go big.

Out of the three Rashford would appear to be the most exciting of additions. Savinho is raw and inconsistent. Gakpo is a bit more proven but was met with his own difficulties at Anfield last term. Who wasn’t it?

At the moment, Savinho would appear to be the most likely of moves and signing a first-team winger is of utmost importance as they look to bring more goals and assists into the team.

However, De Zerbi and Co are also looking towards the future, edging closer to another signing.

That’s according to The Daily Mail who report that Arsenal youngster Kyran Thompson is closing in on a move to join Spurs.

Thompson only joined Arsenal in a £1.1m deal from West Ham two years ago but will not be staying at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have offered him fresh scholarship terms but he has been unwilling to extend his adventure on the red side of north London.

As a result, Spurs have moved quickly to seal a move and are now confident of completing everything in due course.

Who is Kyran Thompson and what could he offer to Spurs?

There has not been much to rave about in recent years but if there is one thing that Tottenham have done well it is invest in young talent and look to the future.

Ange Postecoglou bemoaned the fact that they signed a host of teenagers a few years ago. Speaking on the Overlap, he said: “We had to sign Premier League-leading players but finishing fifth that year didn’t get us Champions League, we didn’t have the money. So we ended up signing Dom Solanke. I was really keen on him, I really liked him. Then three teenagers.”

Ange continued: “I was looking at Pedro Neto, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Antoine] Semenyo at the time, Marc Guehi, because I said if we’re going to go from fifth to challenging, that’s what the other big clubs would do in that moment.”

Of course, he does have a point and it will have no doubt helped them avoid finishing 17th. However, it’s hard to look at the young crop in the Spurs ranks and not be impressed.

While Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have become first-team regulars, the future is bright for the likes of Luka Vuskovic, Mikey Moore and the youngest of them all, Luca Williams-Barnett.

In Thompson, they would be adding another mighty fine teenager to their ranks. Aged just 16, he is one of the brightest talents in the Arsenal academy right now. A left footed right winger who can also play as a 10, the trouble for the Gunners is that they already have a few of those already.

He is behind Max Dowman who is the same age and a very similar profile so it’s understandable that Thompson views a clearer path to first-team stardom elsewhere.

So, what are his best qualities and who else can we compare him to? Well, the teenager is said to be an “electrifying winger” by Arsenal academy expert Will Balsam. He is a particularly creative player who thrives in tight spaces.

The fact he’s something of a winger/attacking midfielder hybrid draws natural comparisons to Xavi Simons, as does his ability to seemingly glide and float with the ball when he drifts inside.

So far, Thompson has only played once for Arsenal’s U21s but he has now played a full season of U18 football, playing two years above his age group. He scored four times last term, also registering three assists in 32 outings. Sure, those are not jaw-dropping numbers but he’s already ahead of so many of his age group peers.

A powerful runner with great feet, you could also say he draws comparisons to Dele Alli. Like Dele, he’s capable of producing magic moments from central areas, weaving in and out of defenders.

It’s important not to get too carried away by this signing but the future is bright and if it were not for the generational Dowman being in his way, he may well have had a shot at the first-team at Arsenal.