According to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, Tottenham are worried about their lack of homegrown players ahead of a potential return to European football next season.
Spurs currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, two points behind Arsenal in fourth. Even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, reaching the Europa League is all but in the bag – they are six points ahead of West Ham in seventh with a game in hand.
However, speaking to Give Me Sport, Bridge has raised concerns in regards to the make-up of Tottenham’s squad if they compete in a continental tournament next term. He said, “Tottenham are concerned about the homegrown situation, because in Europe, Eric Dier and Ben Davies are non-homegrown. It’s crazy, because Eric Dier trained in Portugal.”
TIF Thoughts on Spurs situation
This comes now with Antonio Conte’s future seemingly up in the air with a move to PSG being mooted.
This is a problem for Tottenham. Dier is a homegrown player in the Premier League, but European rules are different, and he would not count towards the quota. Only five players would fulfil the criteria needed to be classed as homegrown among the current senior squad.
There are likely to be two consequences. Firstly, Harry Winks, who, it has been suggested, could move away from the north London outfit this summer, could be offered a reprieve. Tottenham cannot afford to let one of the few homegrown players they have amongst their ranks depart.
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Also, it could lead to the Lilywhites targeting English players, or at least players who spent three years between the ages of 15 and 21 in English, as is required. There is plenty of talent amongst these shores, but English players often come at a premium, meaning it could be an expensive summer for Daniel Levy and Co.