With Harry Kane constantly being linked with the exit door, it would be absolutely fantastic to have another young player step-up with incredible potential and produce the kind of form that Kane has over the last seven years.
Thankfully, not only do Spurs have Troy Parrott in the ranks who could potentially make an impact in the first team in the future, but 17-year-old Dane Scarlett has today signed a professional deal with the club which will hopefully be an indicator that his long-term future is in North London.
We are delighted to announce that Dane Scarlett’s first professional contract with the Club has now been formalised.
✍️ The contract for the young forward will run until 2023, having been triggered following his 17th birthday.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 28, 2021
Proud moment for me & my family this week on signing my first professional contract @spursofficial.I would like to thank my family & all of my coaches that have helped me get to this point. Grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and am looking forward to the future🤍💁🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/Mj6OTyYYEj
— Dane Scarlett (@DScarlett09) March 28, 2021
That’s the maximum which can be signed for a first pro deal at 17
— Lilywhite Rose (@Lilywhite_Rose) March 28, 2021
After hot prospects Luis Binks, Noni Madueke and Marcus Edwards have all impressed elsewhere after leaving the club permanently in the last few years, it’s important to make sure Scarlett doesn’t follow suit.
It’s of course a massive risk at this age to leave such a prestigious academy like Spurs’ as Reo Griffiths and Keanan Bennetts have learned the hard way with neither of them unfortunately making as much progress as they would have if they stayed.
Scarlett is highly rated by Head Coach Jose Mourinho, who has described him as a ‘diamond’ in the past, and it has already been confirmed that he will train permanently with the first team next season.
The striker has made two appearances in the Europa League this season including one where he laid on an assist late on against Wolfsberger – becoming the youngest person make an assist in the competition since Kylian Mbappe.
https://twitter.com/thfcem/status/1364646574958198785?s=20
He has made his debut in the Premier League too, becoming the youngest person to play in the league for Spurs but is yet to score a goal or contribute an assist – which is something none of us should be expecting him to do for a while unless Kane and Carlos Vinicius suffer injuries at the same time.
Scarlett has also been deployed on the left hand side this season as an inside forward which could maximise his opportunities, but after scoring 22 goals in 18 youth team appearances this season, the Englishman might just have the advantage over Irish international Parrott.
If Vinicius doesn’t sign permanently, and other alternative targets aren’t signed, next season could be a big year for Scarlett, who’s new contract runs out in 2023, but we’re sure that will be extended at some point.