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Ashley Phillips given Spurs transfer warning after Stoke City breakthrough

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Ashley Phillips given Spurs transfer warning after Stoke City breakthrough - Stoke on Trent Live
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Ashley Phillips impressed on a season-long loan at Stoke City before returning to parent club Tottenham Hotspur

Ashley Phillips has been warned he needs "the pre-season to end all pre-seasons" to avoid falling into a trap of never-ending loans slowly leading to a goodbye at Tottenham Hotspur.

The 20-year-old centre-half is back at Spurs for the summer after an impressive long-term loan at Stoke City, where he got his first taste of playing regular football over the course of pretty much a full season.

He joined Stoke in August and made a couple of cameos before forcing his way into the starting XI in late October and never dropping out, gradually becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet.

The England youth international ended up in a partnership with Ben Wilmot that helped Stoke eventually secure their status in the Championship - and both players were willing to play through injury in the spring to get the job done.

Phillips had joined Tottenham from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2023 and spent the second half of 2023/24 with Plymouth Argyle before his time in the Potteries. Now he is trying to stake his claim under new Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, who has welcomed two new centre-backs into his squad this window.

Kevin Danso has joined from Lens for £21 million and Kota Takai has arrived from Kawasaki Frontale for £5m. Luka Vuskovic is also now officially a Spurs player and Frank can also call on Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and Alfie Dorrington.

It is believed that Spurs haven't been planning to let Phillips out on loan to the Championship again but could test him in a European league. He has still been linked with Sheffield United.

But Football.London's Spurs reporter Alasdair Gold said: "Phillips never really got a chance under Ange Postecoglou, or was not rated by the Australian and his coaching staff, but did have two impressive loan spells in the Championship at Plymouth and Stoke where he earned plenty of plaudits.

"The centre-back turned 20 a couple of weeks ago and he will be fully aware that the arrival of Luka Vuskovic and Takai is going to only block the path further to ever playing a competitive match for Tottenham.

"Frank will want to have a proper look at the big centre-back but Phillips is going to need to have the pre-season to end all pre-seasons to ensure his Spurs career doesn't just become a temporary rest stop between loans before leaving permanently."

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Nathan Collins to Spurs transfer: Two clubs on alert over Stoke City record breaker

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Nathan Collins to Spurs transfer: Two clubs on alert over Stoke City record breaker - Stoke on Trent Live
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Thomas Frank's anticipated move to become Tottenham Hotspur manager will step up the alert level on his Brentford defender Nathan Collins too.

It is claimed that Frank would like to take the Stoke City youth graduate to Spurs with him, as well as his Manchester United-linked teammate Bryan Mbeumo, in a deal that would cost a pretty penny. Collins, aged 24, still has four years left on his Brentford contract, with a club option for an additional two years beyond that.

Brentford would "demand a significant return", claims the London press, on the club record £22 million they spent to sign Collins from Wolves two years ago - and Wolves' ears will have pricked up because they agreed a sell-on clause as part of that deal. Stoke had a similar benefit when Burnley sold him to Wolves in 2022.

Collins has established himself as a Premier League and Republic of Ireland regular and he played every minute of Brentford's league campaign under Frank in 2024/25, topping the top flight statistics for most blocks by a centre-back (57), coming second (220) to Nottingham Forest's Murillo (242) for most clearances and joint-second with Virgil van Dijk (119) behind Dan Burn (148) for most aerials won.

The coaches who guided him through the ranks at Stoke will be frustrated that he isn't hitting those numbers in the right red and white stripes but he is still flying the flag for the academy. Freddie Anderson explained earlier this season how he was persuaded that Stoke was the right move for him after leaving Manchester City after being shown how Collins developed at Clayton Wood, as well as Harry Souttar.

It is work that has helped Stoke build up a little conveyor belt of very promising young centre-halves, including Jaden Dixon, Jake Griffin, Pijus Otegbayo and Owen Powell.

Collins hasn't forgotten that groundwork either. He joined Stoke at 15 from Cherry Orchard, who had a sell-on clause activated when he later joined Burnley for an initial £12m. There had been strong interest from Ipswich but he ran out for Stoke under-16s against Liverpool in January 2016.

He went on to play above his age group. He captained the under-18s and under-23s - and played in that surreal, frenzied Potteries derby when Stoke under-21s lost to Port Vale at Vale Park in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Academy director Gareth Owen said around that time: “It’s not purely his footballing ability but also off the field; his confidence in himself, his sacrifice and how he lives his life, how he is a leader, a communicator, how other players respect him.

“These are all old school values that can quickly be forgotten – but they are what make a player. He is doing everything he can to make himself better and that, matched with a fantastic football ability, means that he’s got a hell of a chance.”

At 17 in April 2019, he made his first team bow when Stoke had two men sent off at Swansea and his first start came 10 days later at Middlesbrough He became Stoke's youngest captain at the age of 18 years and 105 days when Nathan Jones gave him the armband for a Carabao Cup tie at Wigan in 2019. He has continue to be picked out as a leader for clubs and country.

He said earlier this year: “I always try to pick things from different captains I’ve had in my life. I’ve had some unbelievable captains. I think it’s different for everyone because we are all in different positions. I had Ryan Shawcross at Stoke and I had Ben Mee and he’s a legend."

They are qualities that have made him a key man for Frank and explain the current links - even if, this week, the talk from the Brentford end has still been about still hoping to keep Frank, let alone the player. But, Collins said himself, there will be a contingency plan.

Collins told the Irish media: "Every time I turn on the TV, I see (Frank to Spurs speculation). I can’t get away from it, unfortunately.

“But I have my own problems with the (international fixtures), staying fit and looking after myself. I haven’t taken too much of an interest.”

He added: "Brentford is a good club that whatever happens, they will have a plan. There are good people in the back room plan, so there will be a plan. If he stays, even better. We can only see what happens.”

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Former Stoke City star 'has offers on table after being dismissed by Spurs'

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Former Stoke City midfielder Paul Bracewell is reported to have "offers on the table" after apparently leaving his coaching role at Tottenham Hotspur.

The 62-year-old has been in Spurs' youth set-up for the last seven years, initially working as professional development coach alongside Ryan Mason - who is thought to be close to being named as new West Bromwich Albion manager - and then becoming an elite development coach.

It is 45 years now since Bracewell made his full Stoke debut as a 17-year-old against Liverpool in the top flight and quickly became a first team regular under Alan Durban then Richie Barker. Born on the Wirral but having grown up in Shropshire, he had made nearly 150 appearances when he was sold to Sunderland in 1983.

He went on to help Everton win two league titles and the European Cup Winners' Cup, as well as win promotions with Sunderland and Newcastle United. He seemed on course to star for England until he was rocked by a broken ankle at the age of 22.

He ended his playing days and started his coaching career at Fulham, taking over as manager when Kevin Keegan accepted the England job. He had a spell in charge of Halifax Town too before coaching back at Sunderland, then at Spurs, where he has furthered his reputation as a top coach.

It is claimed that his role was made redundant last month but he "could now be set to join a new club, with offers already on the table".

The Stoke youth set-up that Bracewell came through also produced Steve Parkin, who is Phil Parkinson's assistant manager at Wrexham; Steve Bould, a long-standing Arsenal coach who was recently manager of Lommel in Belgium; Chris Maskery, who was a long-serving scout for Arsenal; and Steve Davis, who is player pathways manager at Wolves.

While you're here, we have launched a new WhatsApp group to deliver the latest Stoke news directly to your phone. Click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in. If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking 'Exit Group', simple as that.

Stoke City transfer notebook with Spurs stance on Ashley Phillips and centre half search

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Stoke City transfer notebook with Spurs stance on Ashley Phillips and centre half search - Stoke on Trent Live
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Stoke City will have to be very patient if they want to pursue an unlikely return of Ashley Phillips following his successful loan spell.

Phillips, aged 19, worked his way into becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet during his season at the bet365 Stadium despite playing under three different managers in a team that was struggling at the wrong end of the Championship.

He has gone back to Tottenham Hotspur with his reputation enhanced to the extent that his parent club are believed to rate him at about between £10m and £15m. He was signed from Blackburn Rovers in 2023 when Spurs activated a £2m release clause.

At the moment, it is understood that they do not have plans to send him back out next season although they might be tempted to test him in a European league – or Stoke could try to make the case that he would benefit from another year with them.

Either way, it still took until August 23 last summer for Spurs to sanction an exit and few Premier League clubs let their highest-rated prospects out until the end of their pre-season schedule while they manage their own comings, goings and commitments.

Phillips only made one league start for Stoke until late October but he ended up making 35, including playing through injury in the spring to help make sure they stayed in the division.

Stoke made six loan signings in all in 2024/25 but saw Tom Cannon recalled by Leicester in January to be sold on to Sheffield United for about £10m.

How did Phillips do?

Stoke boss Mark Robins said at the end of term:“I think Ash has got a brilliant future ahead of him. He’s been superb for us. He’s been playing through the last month with injury and got through. Ben Wilmot’s the same, playing with an injury that he needs to have sorted out now the season is over. He’s got through that.

“Gibbo has been injured, we know that, ever since I came in in January. To play a game and get through that is a credit to him as well because it’s the first time I’ve seen him semi-fit. He’s almost fit! He needs a pre-season now, which he will get.

Stoke legend and columnist Mike Pejic said: "Ashley Phillips has been a popular loan signing and fans would be happy to get him back. He is a big lad and needs to be stronger. He’s still developing physically and he needs another two or three years of hard development to get towards his potential.

"At the moment he needs a dominant centre-back with him to help him and to learn from. He’s pretty comfortable on the ball. He reads it quite well. You’ve got to win your battles in there and you’ve got to step into it rather than sit off."

The search for a centre-half

A centre-half is high on the recruitment agenda as the exit of Michael Rose, who was released at the end of term, leaves Ben Wilmot and Ben Gibson as the only two senior players in that position.

There are also high hopes for emerging youth defenders Jaden Dixon, Freddie Anderson, Pijus Otegbayo and Jake Griffin, plus Owen Powell, who is a little bit younger. Such is the calibre at the moment that Stoke were prepared to release Irish youth international Christy Grogan, who has always been very highly rated, so he can find a clearer pathway.

Anderson, aged 18, is currently on a season-long loan with Cork City in the League of Ireland, hoping to add physicality to his game that can push him up the pecking order when he gets back to Clayton Wood.

“Hopefully later on in my career, it’ll be a bit of a breeze, the physical side of the game,” he told the Irish press.

“It’s a tough league. There are some really good players. You’ve got to be at it every game to pick up positive results. So yeah, I’ve been really impressed.”

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Mark Robins salutes Stoke loanee with 'brilliant future'

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Mark Robins salutes Stoke loanee with 'brilliant future' - Stoke on Trent Live
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Mark Robins has saluted loan teenager Ashley Phillips as he returns to Spurs – particularly after playing through his last month at Stoke City with injury.

Phillips and fellow centre-half Ben Wilmot have been playing through pain over the final few weeks of the season to try to help Stoke stay in the Championship, as did captain Ben Gibson as he returned for the final game of term at Derby on Saturday.

Robins, as ever, has been coy on injury details but Wilmot can now get his problem resolved, Gibson can look forward to a pre-season programme while Phillips is going back to parent club Tottenham Hotspur to see what happens next in his career.

The 19-year-old, who is under contract until 2028, has clearly enjoyed his time at Stoke and a first season of playing regular men’s football. It remains to be seen what Spurs’ plans are, but there will be no shortage of suitors if they sanction another loan.

Stoke’s planning for 2025/26 has been ongoing in the background over the last few months, particularly since the arrival of Ian Torrance as the club's latest head of recruitment, and it will be interesting to see how their search for a centre-back develops over the next few weeks and months.

Robins said: “I think Ash has got a brilliant future ahead of him. He’s been superb for us. He’s been playing through the last month with injury and got through. Ben Wilmot’s the same, playing with an injury that he needs to have sorted out now the season is over. He’s got through that.

“Gibbo has been injured, we know that, ever since I came in in January. To play a game and get through that is a credit to him as well because it’s the first time I’ve seen him semi-fit. He’s almost fit! He needs a pre-season now, which he will get.

“We’ve been two steps forward, one step back for a while, but thankfully that’s done and we can start to plan once we’ve had a little bit of a breather.”

While you're here, we have launched a new WhatsApp group to deliver the latest Stoke news directly to your phone. Click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in. If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking 'Exit Group', simple as that.