Competition will be fierce for minutes next season, so impacting the right impression is key
Sam Tabuteau
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After a remarkable start to the summer transfer window, Tottenham’s pre-season preparations get underway this Friday.
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The first batch of players will arrive at Hotspur Way this week as Roberto De Zerbi looks ahead to the new season, and there will be plenty of players looking to make a good first impression on the Spurs boss - including new club-record signings Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.
Those who were and still are involved in the World Cup will see their returns to the club staggered as they take a well-earned break, but a number of the club’s academy players will be called up to train.
That includes players who were sent out on loan last season, as well as some of the club’s brightest talent from the Under-21s and Under-18s teams.
De Zerbi has looked to the transfer market to build out his squad so far this summer, but there will be a host of youngsters vying for potential first-team involvement next season who will be keen to impress.
Here, Standard Sport takes a look at three young players who could catch De Zerbi’s eye over pre-season…
Mikey Moore
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Mikey Moore
Long tipped to make an impression for Spurs’ first-team, Mikey Moore is ready for regular top-level football next season.
Coming off the back of an excellent loan spell at Rangers, Moore is attracting interest from a number of clubs in Europe, and pre-season will be as much about Spurs convincing Moore to stay as it will be about the 18-year-old convincing De Zerbi of his talents.
Borussia Dortmund are reported to be interested in the English winger. So, with De Zerbi already proving that he is not prepared to make false promises about game time to young players, another loan could be on the cards.
With injuries in wide areas, there is an opportunity for Moore to stake a claim for first-team involvement under De Zerbi.
But the teenager is aware of his talents and knows that without any guarantees about game time, he will waste a season of development at Spurs if used sparingly.
Will Lankshear
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Will Lankshear
Another player attracting interest from clubs in England and abroad is striker Will Lankshear, who impressed on loan at Oxford United last season.
The 21-year-old netted 11 Championship goals last term, scooping both the Young Player of the Year trophy and golden boot at the club’s end-of-season awards.
Lankshear will be keen to continue that momentum into next season with regular game time, and he will view Spurs’ lack of forward depth as a potential avenue for minutes.
First-choice striker Dominic Solanke struggled for fitness last season, while Richarlison’s future is in doubt as he enters the final year of his contract.
Lankshear’s physicality appears well-suited to the Premier League, but with Spurs reportedly in the market for a striker, there are no guarantees he will remain in north London.
Jamie Donley
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Jamie Donley
Jamie Donley also spent time on loan at Oxford last season as they failed to avoid relegation to League One.
The 21-year-old, who spent the first half of last season at Stoke City, was initially in and out of the side after joining Oxford in January, but slowly saw his minutes increase as the campaign progressed.
Oxford’s relegation means they are unlikely to trigger the £4.5m option to bring Donley back to the club, and his future for now is at Spurs.
That could change over the coming weeks, but Donley will also be optimistic that he can make an impression on De Zerbi.
The attacking midfielder faces a huge summer to determine where his long-term future lies.
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