Kota Takai’s arrival might put the future of two Tottenham youngsters in doubt
Tottenham are set to complete their second signing under Thomas Frank’s tenure, with a reported £5 million deal in place to bring 20-year-old centre-back Kota Takai over from J League side Kawasaki Frontale. The Japanese defender is understood to have turned down offers from three other European clubs to join Spurs, enticed by the opportunity to continue his rapid development in North London. The club hopes that Takai will settle quickly and make a similar impact to that of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray last season.
The arrival of Takai will only add to Spurs’ already impressive collection of young central defenders, which includes Luka Vuskovic, Ashley Phillips, and Alfie Dorrington. According to Gold, both Takai and Vuskovic will be closely evaluated during pre-season training as Tottenham look to finalize their defensive options for the upcoming campaign.
However, Gold warns that the addition of another talented young centre-back might create a selection headache for Thomas Frank, particularly when it comes to the development paths of Phillips and Dorrington. With an increasingly crowded squad during pre-season, Frank will be forced to make some difficult decisions to accommodate new signings and maintain a balanced roster.
Gold believes that Phillips and Dorrington are unlikely to feature prominently in Frank’s senior squad next season, suggesting both could be sent out on loan once again to continue their development elsewhere.
Yet there may be a twist to that prediction. According to journalist Alan Nixon, Thomas Frank has specifically asked Spurs to hold off on any loan deals for Ashley Phillips, at least for the time being. Nixon reports that Frank wants to properly assess Phillips during pre-season before making any final decisions. The Danish coach is said to value a larger squad for the demands of Champions League football and sees potential in the 19-year-old to contribute if he impresses over the summer.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Spurs ranks, it has been a contrasting few days for Tottenham’s players involved in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Archie Gray is preparing for yet another major final with England’s U21 squad, while two of his Spurs teammates suffered an early exit from the competition.
One name drawing huge attention during the tournament is Mathys Tel, who has shone for France’s U21 side. The talented 20-year-old forward delivered a dramatic match-winning goal in the quarterfinal, a finish so elegant that some observers compared him to Thierry Henry. By contrast, his French teammate at Tottenham, Wilson Odobert, has struggled to make a similar impact and has faced criticism in the French media for his underwhelming tournament performances.
Overall, as Tottenham’s pre-season ramps up under Thomas Frank, all eyes will be on how the club manages its promising crop of young defenders and whether Kota Takai’s arrival proves to be a turning point for the next generation of Spurs stars.
