Tottenham are said to be keen on a talented young midfielder as they look to repeat the success they have already had with the signing of Archie Gray. Spurs are fully focused on improving their squad this summer as they look to become European qualification contenders next season.
Roberto De Zerbi is to be handed a war chest to improve his squad, although the club will have plenty of say in who is signed this summer. Ready-made starters are being targeted to improve the quality of the starting XI, but Spurs must also keep an eye on the future, and they are always in the market for the best young talent available.
De Cat race begins
Spurs are said to be interested in Anderlecht star Nathan De Cat, who has been dazzling at just 17 years of age. The central midfielder is already a regular for the Belgian club's senior team, racking up 46 appearances across all competitions, while he also contributed three goals and five assists.
The box-to-box midfielder has a year remaining on his contract, putting Anderlecht in a tricky position as clubs begin to circle for their talented youngster. De Cat has been linked with a host of clubs, including Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and Tottenham are named as the main source of Premier League interest by TEAMtalk, although other Premier League clubs are said to have inquired.
Tottenham are said to have formalised their interest with 'extensive contact', asking Anderlecht about the conditions of a possible deal this summer. Spurs are said to view De Cat as a deep-lying midfielder who can go on to become a starter, with the player being described by one notorious scout as 'the future of Belgian football'.
Spurs success with youngsters
Tottenham have had plenty of success in signing young talents over the years, be it Gareth Bale, Lucas Bergvall or Archie Gray. Gray, in particular, has been a real success story, already becoming a regular starter while a teenager, although he is now 20 years of age.
Gray is a midfielder just like De Cat, but he is able to perform at a remarkable level at centre-back and full-back, especially given his youth and relative lack of experience.
Spurs paid £40million to Leeds United for Gray, and with each of his two seasons at the club it has looked increasingly as though that fee was a bargain. The 20-year-old is well on his way to being an England international, and indeed an England regular.
It will be hoped De Cat can follow a similar progression should Spurs manage to get their hands on him.