Spurs scout David Pleat is an expert on Football League talent, with him regularly attending games in the lower leagues to add to his extensive knowledge of young gems with Premier League potential.
The likes of Dele Alli, Jack Clarke and Shilow Tracey all joined the club in recent years from lower-league teams, as well as academy starlets Kion Etete and Jez Davies who signed from Notts County and Leyton Orient respectively over the last two seasons.
#TottenhamHotspur have opened talks to sign Chukwuemeka. A Spurs player set to head the other way as part of swap deal. #thfclive
— THFCReport (@THFCReports) July 24, 2021
One player he has been looking at regularly is Northampton Town forward Caleb Chukwuemeka, who at just 19-years-old, made his breakthrough into the first team last season but couldn’t stop them from being relegated to League Two.
The youngster scored two goals and created one more in all competitions – making 28 appearances, but it was enough to earn interest from the likes of Rangers, Aston Villa – where his young brother also plays, and Club Brugges in Belgium.
It is believed that Chukwuemeka has had a terrific pre-season in which he has ‘reached a new level’, and today he scored the winner against Championship outfit Birmingham City which would have caught the eye of Pleat and other scouts in attendance.
68' CALEB! Chukwuemeka adds a Cobblers third! He goes on a great run, beating his defender before hitting home via a Ryan Woods deflection!#NTFC 3-2 #BCFC pic.twitter.com/X61dbxMwni
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) July 24, 2021
With just £60,000 needed to secure his signature, the signing would be low-risk and he would join the Under 23’s at Spurs and add to an already strong group of forwards which includes Dilan Markanday, J’Neill Bennett and the aforementioned Etete – who has settled in really well since his move.
However, a Spurs player from the academy is set to move the other way permanently – but it is unclear at this time who that man could be.
⚽️ A first league goal for Academy player Caleb Chukwuemeka yesterday with an assist for Sam Hoskins. Thank you to Mayfair Cars for sponsoring both players pic.twitter.com/GbaIU5MO4U
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) November 1, 2020
Former Leeds winger Clarke is expected to leave permanently, or at least on a season-long loan this Summer, and that could pave the way for Chukwuemeka to potentially make a couple first team appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League.