MOORE TO COME
Tottenham to SNUB loan transfer offers for 17-year-old wonderkid Mikey Moore after shining in pre-season
Find out what Ange Postecoglou has said about the rising star
TOTTENHAM want to keep wonderkid Mikey Moore this season - despite a raft of clubs keen to take him on loan.
Winger Moore, who turned 17 on Sunday, is viewed as one of the most exciting talents to come through the club’s academy in years.
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He became the club’s youngest-ever player to play in the Premier League when making his debut in May’s 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City, aged 16 years and 277 days.
Along with Moore, Spurs have a clutch of exciting youngsters including Will Lankshear, 19, Jamie Donley, 19 and Alfie Devine, 20.
All three could well be farmed out this season for more experience.
But Ange Postecoglou wants to keep the pick of the bunch, Moore, around this term due to being so young.
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It is thought at this stage of his development he would benefit more from staying put and learning from the senior pros and earning minutes here and there this term.
The logic is similar to how Pep Guardiola handled Phil Foden during the England star’s early years.
Moore signed his first professional contract earlier this week after turning 17 and revealed his intention to establish himself as part of the Spurs’ first team.
The wideman, who has scored two goals in pre-season for the North Londoners, said: “It’s a big step, but obviously all the boys have welcomed me in.
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“It’s just about me trying to prove myself really, I’ve done nothing yet.
“I have still got a long, long way to go to establish myself as a first-team player, like the rest of them.”
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Moore was born in Southwark, South London and first signed for Spurs aged seven.
Quickly identified as a potential future superstar, Tottenham had to fight off competition from some of Europe’s biggest sides to keep him when he was 15.
The same scenario occurred this summer but Spurs managed to tie him down to a three-year contract.
Moore scored 14 goals and grabbed eight assists for Spurs at Under-18 level last term before making it onto the first-team bench in May.
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The England youth star was an unused sub against Chelsea, Liverpool and Burnley, before making his bow off the bench against City and then again on the final day against Sheffield United.
He has been a regular in pre-season, netting against Hearts and Vissel Kobe, as well as in behind-closed-doors friendlies against Cambridge and the Japan Under-20 team.
Moore showed he is no shrinking violet when confronting superstar Kingsley Coman in the final stages of Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat to Bayern Munich.
It’s fair to say, it’s incredible that he’s 16 turning 17.
Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou said of Moore earlier this summer: “It’s fair to say, it’s incredible that he’s 16 turning 17.
“He handles it really well, and that’s part of the process when you’re a young footballer if you’re going well. We can’t protect him from all of it. But he’s been great.
“He’s come back in pre-season and done really well in the games and in training.
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“It’s great for this football club that he’s come through our academy and is already showing great promise.
“But he’s a young man. Our role is to have the best possible environment for him to be the best footballer he can be.”
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