Ashley Phillips was one of a number of players to return to Hotspur Way on Saturday for the first day of pre-season training. Spending the 2024/25 campaign on loan with Stoke City in the Championship, it remains to be seen where the Tottenham centre-back will be playing his football come August.
Since joining Tottenham from Blackburn Rovers two summers ago, things just haven't gone to plan for the 20-year-old in north London. Phillips is still to make his senior debut for Spurs, although he has played in a couple of pre-season games for the club.
During his first season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ange Postecoglou elected against using the Salford-born player despite his team suffering with a lack of defensive numbers. Duly heading on loan to Plymouth Argyle in January and winning their young player of the season award after only 20 appearances for the club, he was once again given the green light to depart on loan and linked up with Stoke last August.
Again, the talented defender caught the eye for his loan club and that has subsequently seen Sheffield United mentioned in regards to a permanent swoop for him. Phillips will be hoping to make his mark at Tottenham this season under new head coach Thomas Frank.
The change of management could potentially work for the defender and see him remain part of the plans for the 2025/26 season and beyond. However, what could make things tricky for him is that there has been a lot of movement in his position since he departed for Stoke City last August.
Firstly, Kevin Danso added to the centre-back numbers late in the winter transfer window after initially joining on loan from RC Lens. That move has now become permanent due to an obligation to buy clause in the agreement between both clubs.
Luka Vuskovic is now officially a Tottenham player after agreeing to a move to north London from Hajduk Split back in September 2023. The Croat was present for the first day of pre-season training at Hotspur Way on Saturday and he could well make his debut in the pre-season friendly at Reading later this month.
Vuskovic may only be 18 years of age but he has already built up a good amount of senior football to his name after playing for Hajduk Split, Radomiak Radom and Westerlo over the past two years. Seen as one of the most talented youngsters in the game, he may immediately end up leapfrogging Phillips in the pecking order.
That's not it for new centre-backs at Tottenham as Japanese starlet Kota Takai is set to complete a £5million transfer to the club from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale. The 20-year-old said his goodbyes to supporters on Saturday and he was even given a guard of honour by his teammates as he re-emerged from the tunnel after the game to bid farewell.
The three transfers could very well have a huge say on whether Phillips is to make it as a Tottenham player or not. All will become clear over the coming weeks as Frank takes a closer look at his players and decides whether they are to be in his thinking for the 2025/26 campaign or not.