Tottenham midfielder Tashan Oakley-Boothe is the club youngster that is closest to breaking into the first team, according to Football.London.
The news outlet claims that the 18-year-old is the most likely academy star to get a promotion to Mauricio Pochettino’s senior squad.
It is understood that the England Under-18 international has travelled with the first team in recent weeks and has just missed out on the 18-man squad, but has been ready to step in if injuries arrived.
Oakley-Boothe made his senior debut earlier this campaign as a late substitute in the EFL Cup against Barnsley and that remains his only appearance to date.
The central midfielder has crept onto Pochettino’s squad in the Premier League and Champions League earlier in the year and is a very highly-rated talent at the North London club.
He has been a key player for Spurs’ youth teams too and helped the Under-19s side beat Monaco on Wednesday afternoon in the UEFA Youth League round of 16.
Oakley-Boothe was a creative force in the middle of the park and Scott Parker’s team secured a win via a penalty shootout.
OPINION
Spurs have a brilliant track record in recent years of developing their academy players and will hope ball-playing midfielder Oakley-Boothe can be the next off that production line. He is banging down the door for a senior chance and is clearly a player on Pochettino’s radar. The likes of Harry Kane and Harry Winks have flown up from the youth set-up to first team and that sets a brilliant example for the young players to follow in their footsteps.