Mikey Moore’s breakthrough season at Tottenham has attracted suitors vying to sign the talented teenager.
The 17-year-old made 20 senior appearances for Spurs last season, notably impressing in the group stages of the Europa League before a long-term illness stunted his progress over winter.
The winger became England’s youngest-ever scorer in a major European competition when he scored in Tottenham’s 3-0 win against IF Elfsborg.
His performances earned him the captain’s armband for the Three Lions’ fixture against Norway in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, where Moore suffered an innocuous injury after scoring the equaliser.
His rapid rise has seen him become one of the hottest prospects in English football, and has caught the attention of a former Tottenham associate who looks set to prise him away from North London.
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Juventus interested in signing Moore
Thomas Frank gave his first official interview as Tottenham’s new head coach on Wednesday (18 June), stating his excitement about nurturing the abundance of young players at Hotspur Way.
Archie Gray, who the 51-year-old wanted to sign for the Bees before the Lilywhites swooped in, was one of the names mentioned, along with the likes of Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert.
Moore would likely be another player the Dane would be enthusiatic to work with, however Tottenham could be set to lose the teenager this summer.
As reported in La Gazzetta Dello Sport (P6, 19 June), Juventus are looking to bring him to Turin, with former Spurs football director Damien Comolli fronting the interest from the Italian giants.
Comolli, now a general manager at the Old Lady, still has strong ties with his former employers, and hopes to use his connection to secure a deal worth £17million for the Spurs academy product.
Despite any sale for Moore counting as pure profit for the Londoners, Tottenham are expected to offer stiff resistence for their most gifted academy player since Harry Kane.
Tottenham must keep hold of Moore
Spurs’ academy has fallen short of producing players worthy of regular first-team action in recent years, despite huge investment in it’s development in tandem with building the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, it is thought the current crop of youngsters is far more promising, with Moore the shining light of the recent graduates.
His youthful bravery and quality on the ball has excited the Lilywhites, while his temperment and work ethic belie his age.
His talent must be allowed to prosper further at Tottenham, especially with the club’s desperate need to increase their homegrown quota for the Champions League.