OPINION
With Tottenham establishing themselves as one of the top producers of young English talent over the last couple of years, manager Mauricio Pochettino knows there is an expectation on him to keep up that reputation.
He has not done a bad job this season, introducing a number of homegrown starlets into the senior setup and giving them their first taste of professional football.
Perhaps the standout performer has been Oliver Skipp, the 18-year-old central midfielder who has been featuring fleetingly in the Premier League of late and being trusted with a first start for the Lilywhites.
He joins a handful of midfield options already at Pochettino’s disposal and with the likes of Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko, Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier all battling it out for a first team place, it would appear the Argentine does not need any more options.
One name which was left off that list was Kenyan star Victor Wanyama, with the fringe figure having seen his injury woes leave him on the sidelines rather than in the first team setup and if there was one name who would probably be allowed to leave, it should be the 27-year-old.
However, Goal.com claim that Wanyama has been told he is going nowhere this month – a decision which betrays both him and the rest of the midfield options at Spurs right now.
Keeping the central enforcer despite his lack of opportunities is stifling his career, not to mention acting as a great big hurdle to the other players, such as Skipp, in their hunt for game time.
Pochettino needs to realise keeping Wanyama at the club is beneficial to no one right now and letting him leave will give the Kenyan the game time he wants while freeing up room in the squad for the next hot prospect in north London.
He has been loyal to Spurs for as long as he can but with first team action looking unlikely, he really should be leaving this month.