Is Spurs target Ben Wilmot making big mistake heading to Watford?

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to miss out on young centre-back Ben Wilmot with their Premier League rivals winning the race.

According to a report from The Sun, Tottenham look set to miss out on a potential deal for Ben Wilmot, with Watford closing in on a £1.5 million move for the young centre-back.

The Sun’s report suggests that the 18-year-old had no shortage of offers from the Premier League, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all joining Spurs in being linked with the teenager – but the Hornets are the ones looking set to win the race.

But given Mauricio Pochettino’s record when it comes to bringing youngsters through and Watford’s apparent reluctance to use their prospects too often in the first-team, would it be out of the question to suggest that Wilmot may soon be left to regret the decision to head to Vicarage Road?

Wilmot has only made 10 League Two appearances during his senior career, so it seems highly unlikely that he will be pushing for a first-team chance straight away – The Sun reports that a loan return to Stevenage could be on the cards anyway – but it actually appears much tougher for a youngster to break into Watford’s side than it is for a prospect to get their first-team chance at Spurs.

Richarlison is the only Watford player under the age of 23 to have made a Premier League start this season, while Pochettino has shown that he has little fear relying on young players in any of the four competitions that Spurs compete in.

Juan Foyth, for example, has started a Champions League game and featured regularly in the FA Cup, while the current Tottenham first-team is littered with academy graduates or players who were signed while they were deemed as prospects for the future.

As mentioned, Wilmot’s top flight debut is surely still some way off despite the cluster of Premier League sides making a move. But perhaps taking the gamble and holding out for a potential Spurs move may have actually been the best option for the youngster as he may need to break the mould if he wants to fight his way through the ranks at Watford.