Tottenham Hotspur are blessed with a very promising academy set-up.
Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga are the latest names to breakthrough into the first team, joining the two Harry’s – Winks and Kane – as recent success stories at the Hotspur Way base.
One of the key criteria that chairman Daniel Levy was reportedly looking for in his next manager post-Jose Mourinho was centred around the development of the club’s emerging youth talents, and so far, Nuno Santo has ticked those boxes.
But who could be next in line, in the near future?
Who has been Spurs’ best youth product since Kane?
WINKS
SKIPP
TANGANGA
OTHER
The Portuguese boss is pretty stacked in the wide department but you can forget about Jack Clarke and Ryan Sessegnon for the time being, neither are products of the Spurs system.
Instead, it may well be J’Neil Bennett who emerges as the Lilywhites’ next Andros Townsend.
The 19-year-old gem has been sent to League One outfit Crewe Alexandra on loan and has already made an instant impact, scoring an absolute scorcher.
📂J’Neil Bennett
└📁 21-22 Pre-Season
└📁 Goals
└💥 Worldie pic.twitter.com/eSbvE9qAss— Crewe Alexandra (@crewealexfc) September 2, 2021
Bennett made his senior bow earlier in the season, coming off the bench for a nine-minute cameo in Spurs’ first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying clash with Pacos de Ferreira.
But he’s a player that has been touted to have a big future in north London, having been a constant source of goals in the youth set-up. Across all levels, he has bagged 22 goals and 13 assists, as per Transfermarkt.
Speaking about his deadline day loan move, football.london reporter Alasdair Gold waxed lyrical about the young winger. “Great move for J’Neil Bennett until January. The 19-year-old has got plenty of talent,” he tweeted. “Really looking forward to seeing what he can do with first team football.”
The ever-reliable journalist has also dubbed Bennett as a “livewire” in the past, as if his record in front of goal wasn’t enough to be excited about.
If this loan spell away from N17 proves to be a success, then we could well see the promising teenager accelerated into the senior side this time next year.
Spurs surely have a future star on their hands in Bennett.
AND in other news, Forget Dier: Spurs could find Romero’s dream partner in swoop for £45m-rated “monster”…