After Spurs‘ Champions League hopes for next season all but came to an end last weekend as a result of the loss away to Leeds United, it looks like the club is set for another season in the Europa League.
However, with a number of next-generation players on the cusp of becoming first team players, the Europa League could provide a good platform for them to showcase their skills, particularly if the club offloads all the deadwood lying around taking up too much on the wage bill.
The likes of Harry Kane, Ryan Mason and more recently Dane Scarlett all made their debuts in the Europa League, and while the first two names have played significant parts in the club’s history for different reasons, the latter is set to have a big breakthrough season next year.
We have selected five players that we believe could follow in the likes of Kane’s footsteps and make a name for themselves by impressing in the competition next season:
Dane Scarlett
All eight goals in this FA Youth Cup tie between Spurs and Newport County were finished superbly, but Dane Scarlett's third (of five) goals is a thing of beauty. pic.twitter.com/JaTOeHKhj1
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) January 13, 2021
Seventeen-year-old striker Scarlett was set for a breakthrough season next year under Jose Mourinho, but now that the Portuguese manager has been sacked, things aren’t so clear as to whether or not the youngster will be involved in next year’s campaign.
However, we still believe that Troy Parrott will be sent on-loan again instead of Scarlett, and so the forward will get game time in the League Cup, potentially the FA Cup as well as the Europa League. After getting an assist in this seasons Europa League campaign, he can definitely do one better next season and score some goals in the competition.
Dennis Cirkin
17-year-old Dennis Cirkin makes the senior squad for the first time. ๐#THFC โช๏ธ #COYS pic.twitter.com/mBhTkvyl8l
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 14, 2020
Right now, the path to the first team for young left-back Cirkin is difficult with both Sergio Reguilon and Ben Davies ahead of him in the left-back position, and Ryan Sessegnon set to return from his loan at Hoffenheim at the end of the season.
However, Cirkin has plenty of talent to demonstrate right now and the potential to go far should he be trusted, so it is plausible that to fit him into the team for a Europa League game that Sessegnon is pushed forward, Reguilon rested and Davies moved to centre-back. The Spurs development staff rate him highly, so if he stays at the club this summer, a Europa League campaign could be very beneficial.
Alfie Devine
๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ and scoring for Spurs ๐ฅ
A ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ for Alfie Devine โจ#THFC โช๏ธ #COYS pic.twitter.com/bOUsOGTNYH
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 11, 2021
Hot prospect Devine has already made an impact in the first team too, having scored in the FA Cup against non-league side Marine, and performances in the U23’s have been equally impressive despite still just being 16-years-old.
๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ and scoring for Spurs ๐ฅ
A ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ for Alfie Devine โจ#THFC โช๏ธ #COYS pic.twitter.com/bOUsOGTNYH
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 11, 2021
In a match against Chelsea, he showed his determination, passion and aggression in a battle with veteran midfielder Danny Drinkwater, and as a result being sent off for a bad challenge on him but drawing a reaction from the 31-year-old that also got him sent off. He has contributed a number of goals and assists this season at a higher age group, and there is no reason why he cannot become a regular next season in the Europa League.
Timothee Lo-Tutala
[#Mercato๐] #Tottenham aimerait prolonger le contrat de son jeune espoir Timothรฉe #LoTutala !
Le gardien franรงais est suivi en #Ligue1 et #Eredivisie. (@footmercato) pic.twitter.com/vPiM02VeFm
— System Foot (@SystemFoot) April 15, 2021
French goalkeeper Lo-Tutala is a name that not too many Spurs fans will know, as he has only featured at youth level so far. But after captaining the U18’s and impressing in the U23’s too, he has become one of the top prospects in the academy.
With Alfie Whiteman likely to head out on-loan next year and Brandon Austin already on-loan at Orlando City SC, the path could be open for the 18-year-old to make his debut next season in the Europa League, even more so if Joe Hart or Hugo Lloris gets injured. Spurs may need to hand him a debut just to keep him happy though, as there are plenty of top clubs in Europe like PSG and Ajax who are interested in luring Lo-Tutala away from Spurs.
Maksim Paskotsi
Maksim Paskotลกi loves a volley. ๐คฏ#THFC | @SpursOfficial pic.twitter.com/lHTfDxZvV3
— thfcreport Academy (@thfcreportAcad) January 30, 2021
Estonia international Paskotsi has settled in England exceptionally well since moving at the start of the season as a 17-year-old. He has scored five goals in 19 U18 Premier League games this season, proving a threat from set-pieces as well as demonstrating his exceptional defensive skills in what has been a very impressive season, which has resulted in him earning three caps at senior level for his country.
Spurs scouts saw the talent within Paskotsi when they signed him from FC Flora for around ยฃ45K, and he could turn out to be a shrewd piece of business if he continues developing at the same rate he is now going into next year. That could also mean a debut for him is not far away, and the Europa League would be the perfect competition to give him that in, particularly if Spurs are handed an easy group.