Boss comparing Tottenham target Ben Wilmot with £15m-rated summer target should convince Spurs

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Tottenham Hotspur were linked with Stevenage youngster Ben Wilmot towards the end of November.

The likes of Jamie Vardy and Dele Alli have proved in recent years that signing players from the lower leagues of English football can prove a masterstroke – and Tottenham have obviously been the beneficiaries of the decision to give Alli his break in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, Spurs would be forgiven for being cautious and taking their time to decide whether to pursue any other players who are catching their eye in the lower divisions. One of the players who is reportedly on their radar is Stevenage’s Ben Wilmot.

The Daily Mail reported towards the end of November that Spurs wanted the 18-year-old and were rivalling Liverpool for his signature, but it is not like the defender has got a significant amount of first-team football under his belt that would make it easier for Mauricio Pochettino’s men to make a decision about a potential pursuit.

Wilmot has made just four senior appearances and is yet to feature in the league – proving to be an unused substitute on 10 occasions – so perhaps Stevenage boss Darren Sarll’s recent comments regarding his future should help make Tottenham’s mind up.

In comments reported by the Daily Mail earlier this week the Boro boss suggested that the teenager reminds him of Swansea City defender Alfie Mawson, who he previously worked with when he was coming through the ranks at Brentford.

“He’s got a reading of the game, and an intelligence,” he said, as reported by the Mail. “I was very lucky at Brentford that I recruited a young man called Alfie Mawson, who’d been released from Reading.

“They have a very similar compatibility between them as players and people. Both have got a fantastic desire. Alfie has gone on to play at the very top and for his country (at Under-21 level).

“Listen, regardless of whether Ben plays for his country or not, I think he’ll play at the very top.”

Of course, Mawson appears to be a player who Pochettino is more than aware of, with The Sun suggesting in the summer that Tottenham were considering a £15 million bid for the centre-back.

Given that Wilmot will surely cost a lot less than that right now, it may not be a surprise if they step up their pursuit in the coming months if they notice some of the same similarities as they were seemingly keen on considering an eight-figure move for Mawson.

Mawson has taken little time to adapt to the Premier League, so perhaps the comparison should tempt Spurs to keep a very close eye on Wilmot from now on as a deal could prove a masterstroke if he lives up to Sarll’s expectations.