View: Tottenham could make smart signing for the future with Ashley Phillips
Tottenham might be finally closing in on the signing of a brand new central defender. However, it is not a name fans would have been expecting.
Ashley Phillips of Blackburn has emerged as a surprise target for the club and it could prove to be a very smart signing for Spurs.
That is according to James Nursey of the Daily Mirror who shared the news via his personal Twitter account (18 July).
“Spurs are set to capitalise on Blackburn’s financial cutbacks with a deal for Ashley Phillips, which should be finalised tomorrow. The starlet will then travel to Asia immediately to be with their first team,” Nursey wrote.
While many fans will be hoping that this is not Daniel Levy’s answer to a first-team centre-back, which is still desperately needed, the signing could prove to pay dividends in the future.
Phillips is an extremely talented youngster who has already featured at international level. The 18-year-old has been capped six times by the England Under-19s and already has Championship experience under his belt.
He played eight times in the competition for Blackburn last season, starting five of those matches and winning on four occasions.
As well as this, he was an unused substitute 15 times and his presence in and around the first team demonstrates how highly rated he is.
Alongside his Championship endeavours, Phillips was a big part of the Blackburn Rovers squad which made an impressive run to the FA Cup Quarter-Finals.
He came on as an early substitute against Norwich to play 80 minutes and help his side keep a clean sheet during a 1-0 win. He once again helped Blackburn keep the back door shut away to Birmingham in a fourth-round replay and was part of their fifth-round victory over Leicester.
The talent is clearly there and although he might not be what Spurs need right now, he could certainly prove to be one for the future if they get a deal across the line.
In other Tottenham news, this is what we learned during the club’s pre-season clash with West Ham.