Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has a strong track record of giving chances to young players across his career to date.
When he arrived at Tottenham, Postecoglou immediately threw the likes of Destiny Udogie into the starting eleven, when other managers might have been more reserved.
Spurs’ recruitment has been focused on buying youngsters with rich potential recently, and Daniel Levy must believe that he has the right manager to nurture those young talents.
Tottenham spent big on Archie Gray in the summer who has already played an unprecedented amount of minutes for the first team, even if that is partly due to the injuries the club have suffered.
But Postecoglou’s decision to include the likes of 17-year-old Mikey Moore has been purely down to the youngster’s ability and potential, a special talent.
Luca Williams-Barnett ready for his first team chance under Ange Postecoglou
That being said, Spurs arguably have an even more exciting prospect coming through their academy right now, 16-year-old midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett.
Williams-Barnett has scored 19 goals in 23 games for Tottenham’s under-18s side this season, numbers that forego what Moore was even able to manage.
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And the youngster delivered another moment for his highlight reel in Spurs’ 6-4 win over Arsenal on Saturday, the under-18s North London Derby.
Williams-Barnett played 90 minutes as Spurs’ #10 and starred throughout, scoring twice and providing one assist for winger Tynan Thompson to grab a goal.
It’s quickly becoming clear that the ‘spectacular’ youngster has become too good for under-18s football, which could lead to an exciting opportunity under Postecoglou next season.
Tottenham could wait on Luca Williams-Barnett instead of buying Eberechi Eze
Given Williams-Barnett appears ready for his first taste of senior football, many might conclude that the midfielder should head out on loan for the 2025/26 season.
However, as was the case with Moore, it seems as if Spurs prefer to keep their top talents at the club to develop.
That’s no slight on players like Ashley Phillips and Yang min-Hyeok who are improving out on loan, but Moore and Williams-Barnett are arguably in a category of their own.
Postecoglou will assess Tottenham’s youngsters in pre-season when many of them return from loan, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Williams-Barnett was then in the first team conversation.
Spurs have appeared keen to present a clear first-team path to Moore to keep the youngster incentivised, and they’re likely to do similar with Williams-Barnett.
Two incredibly exciting talents, and ones who could save Spurs fortunes in the future.
Tottenham still want Eberechi Eze this summer, but perhaps they would be better served promoting Williams-Barnett and saving themselves a fortune, a player who can be just as good in the future.
Eze could cost Tottenham £60m should they make a move, funds that could then be spent elsewhere.
