Tottenham youngster Marcus Edwards has arrived in Italy for a permanent move to Serie A side Udinese.
Tutto Udinese report that the 21-year-old winger has arrived in Udine ahead of a transfer to the Italian side after failing to break into the Spurs first-team despite years of promise.
Edwards was likened to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi by Mauricio Pochettino in 2016 via Sky Sports News, however, the England youth international has failed to make the grade at Tottenham and even spent this summer training at Brentford according to Football London.
The youngster spent two seasons out on loan away from the Premier League side, one with Norwich City which was marred with problems as reported by The Telegraph such as Edwards repeatedly turning up late to team meetings and failing to arrive on time to a single training session.
The 21-year-old prospect also spent a season away in the Netherlands with Eredivisie side Excelsior where Edwards impressed, with former teammate Jeffry Fortes saying to Voetbal Primeur: “He is of a bizarre level. What he can do is not normal. I have not seen a better player in my career. Mauricio Pochettino has not made that comparison with Messi for nothing.”
Indeed, a move away from London and Spurs is what Edwards needs in this stage of his career, and a move to Udinese could be a smart move for the youngster.
The Serie A club have a small but recent history of bringing in English players, with Watford defender Ben Wilmot spending the season out on loan at Udinese last campaign where the teenage centre-back made five appearances for the Italian side.
With the boom in English players taking their talents on the continent, Edwards could become the next youngster to thrive in a new foreign land if he hits the ground running with the historic Italian club, and a move away from home could be the catalyst that unlocks the potential for the once-promising winger