We are at the point in the season when transfer rumors really start ramping up, even with three weeks left to go in the season. Case in point: Sky Germany and our good buddy Florian Plettenberg are reporting Dortmund are now monitoring Spurs’ 17-year old Mikey Moore in the summer transfer window.
Notice what Plettenberg doesn’t say here — whether that interest is for a permanent transfer or a loan. And that’s one of two very important possibilities that could affect whether this rumor is plausible. Thanks to Tottenham’s injury crisis this winter, Mikey got a lot more minutes than anyone, probably even himself, thought, even with an extended period out of the team due to a virus. That’s good for his development, and Ange Postecoglou has repeatedly said that they’re handling Moore very, very carefully. He’s only 17 and the idea is to nurture him but not burn him out too soon.
So in that sense, a loan next season to a good Bundesliga club might just be the thing that helps him kick on to the next level, if he’s in a situation where he’s getting significant minutes. Spurs probably thought sending a 17-year old kid out on loan this season was inadvisable, for good reason — the kid is just a kid, after all. But it’s not at all uncommon for 18-year olds to go out on loan, and I can certainly see a situation where Mikey could be shipped elsewhere, either in England or the continent, to continue his development.
I’d guess, however, that Dortmund’s first choice would be a loan with a purchase option or obligation, and I’d likewise guess that this would make the transfer deal a complete non-starter. I can’t see Spurs letting a talent like Mikey leave unless he decides to go to the jerk mattress and force the issue.
But the other factor is whether Tottenham win the Europa League title and qualify for Champions League. If they do, they will need bodies, because like this season there will be a TON of minutes to play, and Moore would surely be involved. Keeping Mikey around as a squad player next season in another 60+ match year would mean one less player that they need to go out and buy to make up the numbers.
If they lose to Manchester United however, Spurs will need a smaller squad and the focus will then turn to improving the starting 11. In that scenario a loan makes a lot more sense.
So there you go. In a weird sense, it’s kind of a good thing that clubs like Dortmund are taking notice of Mikey, because it’s further confirmation of what a talent Spurs have on their hand.
If the interest is for a permanent deal, then sorry Dortmund or any other club sniffing around him — gtfo.