Tottenham Hotspur they may not have had the best luck on the field in the last ten to 15 years, but they have been blessed with some sensationally gifted footballers.
The likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min formed one of the best strike partnerships Premier League ever seen, and if we go all the way back to the early 2010s, a certain Luka Modrić was making a name for himself at the heart of the Lilywhites midfield.
However, when it comes to sheer explosive entertainment value, there may not have been a bigger Spurs star in modern history than Gareth Bale, as the Wales international conquered English football before securing a world-record move to the game’s biggest club, Real Madrid.
While the income was undoubtedly a boon for the North Londoners, we have no doubt that fans would have preferred to keep the world-class winger, and the bad news is that they could lose another future star to Los Blancos in a move that could be uncomfortably reminiscent of Bale’s departure.
Tottenham in danger of losing a young star
According to a recent report from SpainReal Madrid are now interested in Spurs’ young talents, Archie Gray.
The report revealed that Los Blancos are on the lookout for young players ‘with huge potential’ and have now ‘set their sights on the talented English footballer’, which is news that no Spurs fan will want to hear.
According to the story, the Spanish giants are willing to offer around €50m for the 18-year-old, which translates to around £42m, or just £12m more than The Lilywhites paid him in the summer.
Daniel Levy and Co might be tempted by the prospect of cashing in on Gray immediately, but given his performances this season and the huge potential many believe he possesses, selling him this month would be absurd, especially as they’ve wasted the money they received from the last star they sold to Real.
Why selling Gray would be a repeat of Bale
Okay, before we get into some of the reasons why Real might want to sign Gray this month and why Spurs absolutely shouldn’t sell him, let’s examine why a potential sale would be reminiscent of Bale’s departure over a decade ago.
The first reason is that it would be another example of the Lilywhites selling exciting British talent to the Spanish giants for a hefty fee and making a profit on top of what they originally paid for the players themselves.
Another similarity is that, like the Welshman, the former Leeds ace is already proving to be a versatile footballer who can play in various positions, from midfield to full-back and even central defender.
|
Gray’s positional versatility at 24/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Position |
Appearances |
|
Central defender |
11 |
|
Right back |
6 |
|
Left back |
3 |
|
Central midfield |
1 |
|
Defensive midfield |
1 |
Finally, if Levy and Co were to sell the 18-year-old Dynamo this month, then, as with the former Southampton star, they would almost certainly be selling an exceptional prospect before he has even reached his prime.
That last point ties in with why the 15-time Champions League winners want him to begin with, as despite being so young, the Durham-born child prodigy has looked right at home in world football’s toughest league.
In fact, even though he’s played mostly defense this season, those who know him hold him in such high esteem that he’s a respected analyst Ben Mattinson described him as of the “future £100m” midfielder last year, which, given how well he has adapted to life in the Premier League this season, despite Spurs’ torrid campaign, doesn’t seem unrealistic.
Mattinson is not the only one who has high expectations for the young phenomenon, as a talent hunter Jacek Kulig claimed to own it “quality far beyond his years” and that he was a “top talent” back in February.
Ultimately, while cashing in quickly on a young player signed last window might be tempting for some in the Spurs hierarchy, they simply cannot sell Gray this month.
If they do, it will just be a repeat of Bale’s departure and fans will have to watch him move on and win everything there is to win with the Spanish giants.
