In some cases Tottenham’s loan players have enjoyed more success this season than those they have left behind; but what does the future hold for them at the north London club on their return?
Spurs currently have 13 players who have been in and around the first team set-up at times, out on loan across the Football League and also in Spain and Belgium. Many are trying to make an impression in order for Ange Postecoglou to hand them a chance in pre-season and beyond, while others probably know their time at Tottenham is heading towards an inevitable conclusion.
We’ve decided to take a look across the current batch of players out on loan across England and Europe and delivered our verdict on their future.
Yang Min-hyeok (QPR)
Yang Min-hyeok has already made an impression at QPR with his first four Championship appearances culminating in a full debut last week and a great assist against Derby.
Just 18-years-old and with plenty more adaptation to come to the fast and physical English game, the talented South Korean has plenty of time to show why Spurs made their move for him to come across from the K-League as a player for the future.
Tottenham future? Yes, especially if he carries on his early momentum.
Will Lankshear (West Bromwich Albion)
Will Lankshear has had a season to remember with his Premier League and Europa League debuts for Spurs, grabbing his first senior competitive goal for the club in the latter, while also picking up a red card in that same match at Galatasaray.
The 19-year-old striker was then sent out on loan to West Brom where he has settled in quickly in his first three appearances in the Championship.
He will always have competition in the striker slots and Spurs could sign another forward this summer in addition to Mathys Tel, so Lankshear could do with a good couple of months with the Baggies to continue to raise his profile. There’s going to be a lot of interest in the summer about another loan move.
Tottenham future? Yes, if he maintains his development across potentially another loan.
Bryan Gil (Girona)
It will be four years this summer since Bryan Gil first walked through the doors at Tottenham. He’s made just 43 appearances for the club since, with no goals and two assists.
The 24-year-old has been handed repeated loans back to Spain, where he appears to be far more comfortable in La Liga and he’s currently getting plenty of game time with Girona, scoring four goals and registering three assists in his 29 matches this campaign.
While both clubs documented his loan to Girona as a straight one without an option or obligation to buy, there was some speculation at the time that his contract had been altered to include a €15million (£12.4million) release clause. Either way, Gil’s future looks to lie elsewhere with a year remaining on his original contract, barring any potential options to extend it.
Tottenham future? No.
Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient)
Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley have starred for Orient this season, the former bagging six goals and five assists in his past 12 matches in League One as well as catching the eye in the FA Cup, while the goalkeeper has managed to register 13 clean sheets in just 20 league matches.
Both face plenty of competition in the first team when they return to Tottenham this summer. Donley was used primarily as a left-back by Postecoglou last pre-season after getting bits of game time in the previous campaign. The question marks over the 20-year-old have been whether he has that little bit of acceleration needed at the top level but he’s proving with every passing week that he’s got that extra yard in his brain and remarkable playmaking abilities that Spurs could really do with in the midfield.
For the talented Keeley, the problem lies in Tottenham having a set trio of goalkeepers on long contracts now and the fact that he’s not ever going to be classified as club-trained for the club makes him difficult to register in European competition.
Tottenham future? They’re both very talented young players and Donley has a contract until 2029 and Keeley is likely to be handed a new deal so they could have another season yet on loan to continue their development before any decision needs to be made. We know that’s a cop out from us but if you’re really going to push us for an answer now, it’s currently a yes and a no.
Alfie Devine (Westerlo)
Alfie Devine is currently feeling the Tottenham hamstring curse having played well for Westerlo on loan until suffering the injury this month, with 21 appearances for the Jupiler Pro League side and scoring four goals from the midfield. Playing alongside Luka Vuskovic, who will join Spurs this summer, Devine has now had three loan spells across Belgium and the Football League.
He’s a talented midfielder with a contract until 2027, still only 20-years-old and has impressed Postecoglou during recent pre-seasons. This coming summer will be key because there is just so much competition in the first team midfield at Spurs.
Tottenham future? Maybe but it’s going to require a big effort this summer or another eye-catching loan season with a new contract.
Alejo Veliz (Espanyol)
Alejo Veliz continues to get little tastes of minutes for Espanyol with 22 appearances to his name with four goals, including a Copa del Rey hat-trick.
However, at 21-years-old it feels like he’s not quite doing enough to break into the Spurs first team set-up properly and last summer wasn’t a great one for him under Postecoglou.
Veliz does have a long contract until 2029 but it feels like another loan move likely beckons next season.
Tottenham future? No, unless something drastically changes in the coming 18 months.
Manor Solomon (Leeds United)
Manor Solomon‘s first season at Tottenham was ruined by injury but he has been flying at Leeds United with six goal involvements in his past six matches with three goals and three assists. In all, the Israel international has managed seven goals and eight assists across his 28 matches for the Elland Road club.
The 25-year-old needs a big pre-season at Tottenham if he is to get the chance going forward in the Premier League because there are a lot of wingers at the club and more likely to follow. Leeds could well want to try to keep him if they get promotion in the months ahead.
Tottenham future? Maybe, but much might depend on who the head coach is this summer as Postecoglou does not seem entirely convinced.
Ashley Phillips (Stoke City)
Ashley Phillips has been a near ever-present at the back for Stoke in the Championship and it’s another season in which the 19-year-old has become a regular starter in the division despite his age.
The teenager has not played a minute yet for Postecoglou and with the arrival of Vuskovic this summer it might be that his time comes later down the line.
Tottenham future? Yes, but perhaps not under Postecoglou.
Alfie Dorrington (Aberdeen)
Alfie Dorrington made his Premier League debut this season for Spurs at Southampton and now has four appearances under his belt for Aberdeen.
The 19-year-old is yet another in that batch of teenage centre-backs around a packed department in the squad (injuries aside). He has a deal until 2029 so time is on his side.
Tottenham future? Maybe, but further down the line if he can impress on loan in the next couple of seasons.
Matthew Craig (Mansfield Town)
Matthew Craig made his debut for Spurs in the Premier League a couple of seasons ago but has never really got close to the first team since.
He’s been out on a number of loans since and is currently out of action with a back injury while at Mansfield. The 21-year-old should have a good Football League career but he’s unlikely to continue with Tottenham for much longer.
Tottenham future? No.
George Abbott (Notts County)
George Abbott is an interesting one as those in the academy have been shouting his name for some time as one to watch yet he’s never really got close to the first team yet.
Still just 19-years-old and versatile, he’s now shown what he can do in League Town for Notts County with some spectacular goals from midfield and in total he has four goals and four assists to his name in his 28 appearances for the Magpies.
Abbott will get another chance to impress in pre-season but with two years currently left on his contract, the club will have to make a decision on what comes next.
Tottenham future? Maybe but he will really need to show this summer just how much he’s developed this season.
Luca Gunter (Wealdstone)
Nineteen-year-old goalkeeper Luca Gunter has also been garnering plenty of praise within Spurs’ academy and is now enjoying his first loan at Wealdstone in the National League.
It’s a packed goalkeeper department at Tottenham but his status to come as a homegrown club-trained player will help him in the future and he’s got a long deal until 2029.
Tottenham future? Yes because Brandon Austin has shown this season that patience is required with goalkeepers and that club-trained status is a major help.
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