Tottenham have confirmed that Timothy (TJ) Eyoma has ‘signed’ a three-year deal and will spend the 2020/21 campaign on loan with Lincoln City. The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season at LNER Stadium, making the matchday squad only twice, but he must have made enough of an impression for the Imps to return this summer.
What happened with Eyoma at Lincoln last season?
He joined on loan in January but didn’t end up featuring. Eyoma was an unused substitute in City’s 2-1 defeat to Southend United (February 1) before being left out of the matchday squad in their 1-0 defeat to Rotherham United (February 7), 1-1 draw with MK Dons (February 11) and 4-3 defeat to Accrington Stanley (February 15). He was an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw with Gillingham (February 22) before being left out entirely in the 3-2 win over Burton Albion (March 7).
Clearly Michael Appleton saw something from Eyoma in training that he was happy with, however, so he’s opted to bring the defender back this summer. Jason Shackell, Michael Bostwick and Cian Bolger were keeping the 20-year-old out of the side in 2019/20, but Schackell has since been released and Bostwick is now at Burton, so there’s a void for Eyoma to fill.
Does he have a future at Tottenham?
It appears so. Eyoma has signed a three-year deal, so we clearly want to keep him around for the long-term. He’s made one appearance at senior level, playing 11 minutes in our FA Cup win over Tranmere Rovers (January 4, 2019) while being an unused substitute in our EFL Cup win over West Ham United (October 31, 2018) and 1-0 win over Burnley (December 15, 2018), so the future looks bright.
After racking up 21 appearances for the U18s, 25 for the U19s and 49 for the U23s, Eyoma now needs competitive football to continue his development. Lincoln are a mediocre League One club, but one good season out on loan could open the door to getting first-team opportunities here in 2021/22.
As things stand, Jose Mourinho has Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier and Juan Foyth at his disposal, but Eyoma could upset the applecart if he can impress at Lincoln. Time will tell.
Teams are still playing in the CL, but our interval between seasons already seems to be dragging on far too long. i cannot find it in me to comment about a loan to Lincoln City. What’s the odds he’ll become the next Ledley King for us? Not 4 King great, I say. Nothing to see here, folks, move along.