Tottenham are looking to expand Antonio Conte's squad in this transfer window but there will also be plenty of young players trying to make an impression at the club next season at different levels.
Spurs will need a bigger squad for the next campaign as they try to compete on all fronts under their Italian head coach and the rule change next season for the Premier League will allow Conte to use five substitutes if he wants from his nine-strong bench. On top of that, Tottenham's return to the Champions League will see them take on Europe's toughest competition and require Conte to name 12 substitutes on his bench.
Not only that, but Spurs will also have the UEFA Youth League back on the fixture calendar and their participation in the prestigious U19 competition, which mirrors the Champions League in the group stages, will ensure they must maintain a relatively strong development squad.
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The young players will be hoping to impress Conte if called upon in the first week of pre-season training next month before the international stars return and then perhaps even earn themselves a spot in the squad to travel to Korea for the club's tour.
Here are 11 academy players who we reckon will be looking for a big season to come.
Troy Parrott
The past six months or so have really brought a development spurt for the talented young Republic of Ireland international. Parrott turned 20 in February and midway through the season, by his own admission, something really clicked for him and he understood exactly what was required to be more than just a youngster with potential.
The striker became a key part in MK Dons' run to the League One play-offs, scoring 10 goals and laying on seven assists in 47 matches and on the international stage Parrott has scored twice and provided one assist in his past three matches.
football.london understands that Parrott's own plan is to spend another season out on loan before returning to challenge for a place in the first team squad at Spurs in the 2023/24 season. The youngster is understood to be desperate to make his mark at the club. That plan is shared by Tottenham and while he may get a chance to finally impress Antonio Conte in pre-season and could head out on the club's tour to Korea, the intention is to pick the perfect loan move to continue his progression with plenty of game time as a number nine. A long line of Championship clubs are believed to be interested in taking him, including Swansea, Middlesbrough, Preston and QPR.
Parrott's current deal with Spurs runs until the summer of 2023 but contains an option for the club to extend it by a further year.
Alfie Devine
The 17-year-old has been one of the shining lights in the academy this season with 11 goals and three assists from midfield across 20 matches in the Premier League 2 and FA Youth Cup, despite being one of the younger players in the former competition.
Having arrived from Wigan in 2020, Devine has already made his Spurs debut, becoming the club's youngest goalscorer and appearance maker when he came off the bench against Marine the FA Cup as a 16-year-old under Jose Mourinho. The belief in the 17-year-old is so high that he has already appeared in five Premier League matchday squads, chosen by Mourinho and Conte, and again in the FA Cup this season.
The original plan was to keep Devine for a third season at the club so he could qualify for as a club trained player on the B list for European football in future seasons, with the club turning down a loan move from Leyton Orient last summer. However, the England U19 international is believed to be keen to experience regular first team football next season and the feeling is that the development of the midfielder, who turns 18, might be better served by allowing it.
Dane Scarlett
Another young talent at Tottenham who needs a loan next season to broaden his experience of senior football is 18-year-old Dane Scarlett, who is being tipped for big things by Antonio Conte, as he was by Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo.
"I'm seeing a lot of improvement today in [Dane] Scarlett honestly if I have to tell you," Conte said in April. "Seeing that this guy is improving a lot, he's only 17-years-old but I can tell you that he is a really important prospect for Tottenham. He has to be patient and work behind these very important players and continue to work in this way because about Scarlett, I can tell you that I see a brilliant future for him."
Patience is going to be key for the teenage forward because for all of his development with the first team behind the scenes, this was a season that brought just a single goal for him at club level, with a strike against Oxford United in the EFL Trophy. International football has been far kinder with 10 goals in 10 matches for England U19s, but for a striker who feeds off goals it will have been frustrating in that aspect. A more balanced split between first team and youth football may have proved more beneficial.
For Scarlett, unless Conte decides otherwise this summer, football.london understands that the plan is to loan the teenage striker out next season to get him the minutes he needs to continue his development, particularly with Spurs expected to sign a striker to support Kane. Bournemouth are understood to have made an approach for Scarlett last summer but Spurs rejected that move because they wanted a guarantee of playing time.
Next season Tottenham are expecting to receive more approaches from Championship clubs, although a move to League One might suit the young player better at this age. Spurs will have to select Scarlett's loan team carefully because for a player touted as a future star by both Conte and Mourinho, the next stage of his development is crucial.
Kion Etete
Of the young strikers at the club, Kion Etete is the one who has gone under the radar somewhat because of his lack of exposure to the first team thus far. The 20-year-old arrived from Notts County as a teenager in the summer of 2019 for a reported fee of around £200,000, but it is in the last year that he has really begun to develop.
Physically he fits the Conte mould, a 6ft 3ins forward with a big frame but with skilful feet and he progressed up the divisions last season with a loan at first Northampton Town in League Two and then Cheltenham Town in League One.
After taking a little time to settle into senior football, in Northampton he hit his stride as the winter came and in the end scored nine goals and registered five assists from his 35 matches, with only an ankle injury fragmenting his season and preventing more goals during the second half of the campaign.
Conte will get a chance to look at the big forward in pre-season before his next step is decided.
Matthew Craig
One player who has been catching Conte's eye is Matthew Craig. The versatile Spurs academy product turned 19 in April and can play as a defensive midfielder, a centre-back or as either full-back.
The teenager was involved in training with the first team for much of the season, originally at times with his twin brother Michael before he left the club. Matthew remained and followed up his two Europa Conference League bench appearances by being named by Conte among the substitutes for the final five matches of the Premier League season as others struggled with injuries.
Craig also played 20 times for the U23s across the season, showcasing his versatility by playing across the backline and in midfield. He made six competitive appearances for Scotland U19s during the campaign and is likely to be involved again with the first team in pre-season.
Nile John
The 19-year-old midfielder started the season with plenty to look forward to, following up his Spurs debut last season with an appearance in the Europa Conference League this time around, having made a good impression in pre-season for Espirito Santo.
For Spurs' U23s he was in fine form from midfield, netting seven goals and producing three assists in 17 matches. However, a loan move to Charlton in January proved to be a poor choice by the club as he did not play a single first team minute for the League One side.
Spurs need to choose the right move this time around if they are to aid the development of a player previously named as Scholar of the Year at the club.
Jamie Donley
The next big striker talent set to emerge from the academy is Jamie Donley. The 17-year-old signed his first professional contract with the club on his birthday in January.
He has had a remarkable season for Tottenham's U18s, scoring 16 goals in 18 matches as well as providing six assists and also beginning to take steps into the U23s.
The talented teenage striker has turned out for both Northern Ireland and England at youth international level and with many of the club's strikers likely to head out on loan next season Donley is set to be the main man up front below the first team. He will also get the chance to show what he can do in the UEFA Youth League against some of the best young defenders in Europe.
Maksim Paskotsi
It's been a big season for the 19-year-old defender as Maksim Paskotsi made his debut in the Europa Conference League and then was named on the bench by Conte in both the FA Cup match against Morecambe and the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea.
At international level, the teenager, who can play at centre-back or right-back, has become a regular starter for Estonia, racking up 20 senior appearances for his country despite his age, and has been playing in World Cup qualifiers and Nations League matches.
Paskotsi could be involved on the tour to Korea and then the club must decide whether to keep him as a senior player for the U23s or find a good loan move for him, because he's too old to play in the UEFA Youth League. Players eligible for that competition this coming season must have been born on or after January 1, 2004.
Rio Kyerematen
The central midfielder, who only turned 17 last week, caught the eye this season with seven goals and four assists from the middle of the pitch across 27 appearances for the U18s.
If they haven't already, Spurs will be looking to get Kyerematen tied down to a professional deal as he can be an important player in the UEFA Youth League and might just start his progression into the U23s development squad. The teenager is one to keep an eye.
Harvey White
At the other end of the academy age scale, Harvey White, as well as fellow midfielder Jamie Bowden, are both turning 21 in the next couple of months will be looking to decide the next step of their careers after previous loan spells away from the club.
For White, he signed a four year contract in 2020 and has that time on his side, but he was not able to build on his two senior appearances last season and a successful loan at Portsmouth with any more senior game time this campaign.
He was in and around the first team squad a lot though, on the bench in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa Conference League as well as being named as a substitute for in a remarkable total of 19 Premier League matches without being given the nod to come on to the pitch.
The versatile White can play as a defensive or advanced central midfielder or as a left-back and is one of the best set piece takers at the club. He scored seven goals and produced seven assists from 21 matches for the development squad and after a pre-season with Conte will surely be given the loan he deserves this time around.
Luca Gunter
Spurs released five goalkeepers at the end of this season and are expected to sign another young stopper in the weeks ahead
The opportunity is there for talented 17-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Gunter to become the main man for the U18s in goal this coming season after signing his first professional deal.
The England U17 international struggled with injury this campaign but still helped Spurs reach the final of U17 Premier League Cup. If he can steer clear of injury problems then he could be set for a big season in his development between the sticks.
