Tottenham Hotspur‘s first-year scholar Gabriel Han Willhoft-King has been named in the Guardian’s ‘Next Generation’ list for 2022.
National newspaper recognition is certainly an encouraging sign for any young player at this stage of their career and it does seem as if the north Londoners have a potential star of the future on their hands.
The likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers (2014), Marcus Edwards (2015), Oliver Skipp (2017) and Alfie Devine (2020) have all been named amongst this exciting showcase in the past and whilst two have moved onto pastures new – and subsequently delivered on their potential elsewhere – the latter-but-one remains a key part of Spurs’ future.
Are you excitied by Willhoft-King?
Could Willhoft-King now follow in his footsteps? He has a great chance of doing so.
The 16-year-old defensive midfielder started in every one of the U18s appearances in the FA Youth Cup last campaign – even though he was still a schoolboy.
That highlights talent beyond his years as the Spurs academy setup often select their strongest players for the prestigious competition and whilst it only lasted three outings, it was certainly a sign of things to come for the teenage gem.
Now capped by England at U16 level, Willhoft-King is said to be ‘smooth on the ball’ and has an ‘impressive’ range of passing, as claimed by the Guardian’s ever-reliable David Hytner.
Others have likened him to the aforementioned Skipp, though this up-and-coming starlet could be a more creative version of the defensive midfield monster.
That is seemingly evident by his willingness to get forward from a deep-lying role, his ability to skilfully get past players and an obvious range of passing that even the first-teamer would be proud of.
Spurs blogger and journalist Lennon Branagan, owner of ‘Superhotspur’, has also dubbed the 16-year-old prodigy “very promising” on social media, whilst Football Insider revealed last November that the club were keen to tie him down at Hotspur Way, clearly catching the eye of the club’s big wigs and decision-makers.
As such, in Willhoft-King, sporting director Fabio Paratici and manager Antonio Conte could one day get their hands on the next Skipp, albeit a more creative and attack-minded one that can influence the game just as much in the final third as he can in his own half.
AND in other news, Levy could have Spurs’ next Luka Modric in Conte’s untouchable £100k-p/w “monster”…
