Alasdair Gold claimed this week that Tottenham may decide to keep Alfie Devine at the club rather than loaning the youngster out this summer.
Devine, who has excelled for Tottenham’s youth sides since joining from Wigan two years ago, trained with the first-team last season and was named on the bench by Antonio Conte in several Premier League encounters during the latter part of the campaign.
The midfielder, along with Dane Scarlett, was a key part of the England Under-19 side that won the European Championship this summer.
Scarlett has been loaned out to League One side Portsmouth and reports have indicated that Devine is also expected to complete a temporary move to an EFL side as those at the North London club feel the teenager has outgrown youth football (The Athletic).
However, Gold has now revealed that Tottenham may be planning on keeping the 18-year-old at the club in order to register him for the Champions League due to the homegrown quota.
The journalist added that this might not do down well with Devine, who is keen to play regular football.
However, Gold was speaking just before Devine picked up a hamstring injury last night, so it remains to be seen whether he can recover in time for a summer loan anyway (Football London).
Gold said on his YouTube channel: “It was interesting, someone said to me the other day at the club that maybe they will have to keep Alfie Devine around purely to be able to register him in European stuff.
“I don’t think that would go down very well, I think Alfie is very keen to play football now. I know they turned down a loan move to Leyton Orient last summer and he really wanted to go and play football.”
Spurs Web Opinion
One can understand Devine’s frustration and keenness to play as he has clearly outgrown youth football but he will only benefit from training with the superstars in the Tottenham first team under the watchful eyes of Conte and his coaching staff. The midfielder only just turned 18 and so waiting until January to get a loan move would not slow down his development.
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