Tottenham Hotspur U23s starlet Dilan Markanday has set his sights on playing for the club until 2036 after being nominated for the Premier League 2 player of the month award this week, speaking to the Daily Mail.
The most in-form forward wearing Spurs colours right now isn’t Harry Kane. It’s not Son Heung-min or Lucas Moura either.
20-year-old Dilan Markanday may have made only one first-team appearance so far but, after scoring ten goals in ten games for Tottenham U23s this season, that tally should rise – and quickly.
The Barnet-born schemer was spotted training with Nuno Espirito Santo’s senior squad a fortnight ago, via Football London, and it remains to be seen what sort of role he might play in Antonio Conte’s plans.
Markanday, however, is thinking long term, looking to the future rather than the present.
“The dream is to play for Tottenham for the next 15 years, playing every game,” says Markanday, who scored a hat-trick against Leeds United U23s in August and two more against Manchester City.
“Obviously, I know things might not work out and there are going to be ups and downs. But all I can control is the controllables and things will work out for the best.”
Can Dilan Markanday make the step up from Tottenham U23s?
Markanday has played on the left, right and through the middle for Wayne Burnett’s side this season, thriving in a number of attacking roles.
That versatility will stand him in good stead as the first British-Asian player to feature for Tottenham Hotspur looks to catch Conte’s steely gaze in the months ahead.
It isn’t certain at this stage what the former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus coach has planned for Spurs’ exciting crop of talent.
Jack Clarke, a £9 million signing from Leeds United, has a host of Championship clubs queuing up for his signature, while Dane Scarlett, Nile John and J’Neil Bennett all featured under Nuno in the Europa Conference League.
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