Tottenham youngster Ashley Phillips joined Stoke City on a season-long loan back in August
Tottenham Hotspur have done a smart job by loaning out some of their academy stars and young talents to different clubs to gain experience.
Ange Postecoglou has not hesitated to promote youth at Hotspur Way since arriving in the summer of 2023. He wants to nurture young talents, and sensing some of them won’t get much opportunities in the first team to express themselves this season, he has sanctioned many loan exits across the last two transfer windows.
Ashley Phillips is among those young Spurs talents to have gone out on loan last summer. The teenager has been with the North Londoners since August 2023 after signing from Blackburn Rovers. He is yet to make a first-team appearance for Ange Postecoglou’s side but spent the second half of last season on loan with Plymouth Argyle
At Plymouth Argyle, Ashley Phillips became their Young Player of the Season and helped them avoid relegation from the Championship. The rangy defender joined Stoke City on a season-long in August and has gone on to make 22 Championship appearances thus far, contributing to seven clean sheets.
Thus, Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham thinks Phillips can do well with a Premier League loan next season before fighting for a first-team spot at Tottenham.
“I think they need to find a Premier League loan for Phillips next season,” John Wenham said.
“However, that will only happen if Phillips continues to impress this season in the Championship. It could be that one of the clubs which ends up being promoted is aware of him and is looking to sign him on loan next season.
“Whatever happens, it needs to be a Premier League loan for Phillips, because he has already done two loans in the Championship.”
Tottenham are currently 12th in the Premier League table, and one of the biggest reasons behind their underwhelming results is the injuries they have sustained this season. Ange Postecoglou has missed his first-choice centre-back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven for large parts of the campaign. Moreover, Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
Amid the defensive crisis at White Hart Lane, Sky Sports pundit Tim Sherwood tipped Tottenham to recall Phillips from loan during the winter transfer window. However, the club didn’t and instead signed Kevin Danso on loan from RC Lens with an obligation to buy in the summer.
It was a sensible move from Spurs as Phillips has been playing regularly at Stoke City and gaining much-needed experience in men’s football. The Manchester-born talent has shown signs of development.
