Watford have signed Ben Wilmot… will Tottenham regret not taking a punt?
In doing so they beat competition from several Premier League clubs, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool claimed by The Mail to be tracking the defender earlier this year.
Wilmot is an England under-19 international and Watford may have pulled off a real coup.
At just 18 he was already starring for Stevenage’s first team in League Two, and for just £1.5 million, he is a cheap punt for Watford to take.
At that price, both Liverpool and Tottenham could come to regret not pushing harder to sign the talent.
Tottenham are set to lose Toby Alderweireld this summer and are in need of defensive reinforcements, while Liverpool need to develop an alternative to Dejan Lovren.
Wilmot would not be ready right away, but the two sides need only look around the Premier League to see young talented defenders who have worked their way up to become household names.
James Tarkowski, starring at Burnley after beginning at Oldham Athletic; John Stones, at Manchester City after Everton took a punt on him when he was at Barnsley; Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles who began with Nottingham Forest.
Swansea’s Alfie Mawson, who they signed from Barnsley is another, and Leicester’s Harry Maguire, who kicked off his career with Sheffield United.
All five are now highly coveted, between the £25 million and £50 million price range, with almost all of them capped by England.
In each case, they have succeeded because a club was brave enough to believe they could replicate their lower league progress at a higher level.
England youth international Wilmot could struggle to emulate their success, but at this stage there is no reason why he cannot.
Watford are smart to make their move, and in years to come, Liverpool and Tottenham may look back on this as a missed opportunity, even if they feel they can do without Wilmot in the short-term.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
