Whilst our run to the Champions League final might see us finally opening up the chequebook, still trying to source the best young talent at good deals, is still going to be incredibly important.
Mauricio Pochettino has built an excitingly youthful core, and if reports are to be believed, Ben Godfrey could be the latest man to join the Spurs revolution.
According to the Daily Mail, the Norwich defender is firmly on our radar, and that a move for the 21-year-old could well be on the cards, despite the Canaries’ promotion to the Premier League this season. The England U20 international has enjoyed a fine campaign in the second tier of English football, with reports suggesting that scouts were hugely impressed with his performances this season.
Predominantly a centre-half, Godfrey has built up considerable experience as a holding midfielder, and that versatility will no doubt be an exciting prospect for Pochettino to work with. The Argentine loves players who are capable of playing in more than one position, and Godfrey would fit seamlessly into that thinking.
Having seen Eric Dier effectively do the same as someone who can operate both as an anchor-man and as a centre-back, either as part of a back three or back four, Godfrey would represent an exciting upgrade on the England international.
At four years his younger, the Norwich star has already earned plaudits for his calmness in possession and developing into the modern day centre-half, capable of bringing the ball out of defence and playing passes into midfield.
The 21-year-old also proved his worth at the other end, with four goals and two assists to his name, and his 89.7% pass success ratio betters Dier’s 86.3% – a figure that underlines Godfrey would adapt well to our style of play. Indeed while the two have incredibly similar defensive stats, with both registering 1.1 tackles per game and almost an interception per game too, Godfrey’s youth raises an intriguing option for Pochettino to nurture and develop.
This past season hasn’t seen Dier at his best, and has seen the likes of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko overtake him in the pecking order with ease, whilst he has also been unable to displace the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen at centre-back. It all feels like the England international has hit a brick wall in his progression, and Godfrey could be the man to usurp him.
So even at the tender age of 21, the Canaries man could be ready to make the step-up to the first team under Pochettino’s guidance and be a pivotal part of our side going forward.