As Tottenham Hotspur prepare to make a splash in this summer’s transfer window, the one thing they need to be mindful of is their lack of homegrown and locally-trained players, with the club being well short of the required numbers, particularly for the Champions League.
The outlook for the summer was not looking too promising for Spurs until a few weeks ago, with the club’s financial situation meaning that Tottenham had to sell before they could buy.
However, winning the Europa League has changed the North London club’s fortunes, with Tottenham’s coffers expected to be boosted by around £180m, owing to their participation in next season’s Champions League.
According to reports, Spurs are planning to flex their financial muscle this summer and make some ambitious signings ahead of their return to Europe’s premier club tournament.
Tottenham have to be wary of their homegrown numbers
Football.London’s Alasdair Gold has now pointed out that the Lilywhites have to be mindful of their lack of homegrown options before they finalised their transfer targets.
The departure of Fraser Forster has left the club in an even worse position, although the one advantage they have is the fact Kevin Danso qualifies as homegrown in the Premier League since he was part of the Reading and MK Dons youth set-up as a youngster.
The Premier League rules state that “a homegrown player is someone who has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).”
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As things stand, Spurs have 16 non-homegrown players in their squad, with only a maximum of 17 allowed for the Premier League. Meanwhile, they have 7 homegrown players, with a minimum of eight required to be named in the squad.
Champions League squad rules further complicate things for Tottenham
Gold points out that the rules for UEFA competitions are very different, thus giving an even bigger headache for the North Londoners.
The European football governing body requires teams to have at least eight players out of the 25-man squad to be locally trained. If a club have fewer than eight in their squad, then the maximum number of players in their squad is reduced accordingly.
Gold explains that Tottenham currently have 23 European non-locally trained players in their ranks, but only 17 can be named in their Champions League squad.
How Tottenham’s Premier League squad looks right now, including players returning from loan and before anyone else leaves.
Premier League non-homegrown players (17 currently, 17 maximum allowed): Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Pedro Porro, Radu Dragusin, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son Heung-min, Pape Matar Sarr, Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil, Alejo Veliz, Josh Keeley.
Premier League homegrown players (7 currently and eight minimum required): Dominic Solanke, Kevin Danso, Brandon Austin, Ben Davies, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Djed Spence.
Notable Under-21s players: Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, Dane Scarlett, Yang-min Hyeok, Luka Vuskovic, Ashley Phillips, Alfie Devine, Jamie Donley, Alfie Dorrington.
Even more glaringly, Spurs would be required to name four club-trained players in their squad, but currently have just one in their squad above the age of 21 in the form of keeper Brandon Austin.