Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Ajax youngster Donny van de Beek who is shining in the Eredivisie.
After watching Vincent Janssen endure an extremely difficult first year at Tottenham, Spurs fans would be forgiven for being wary about reports linking them with a move for a player who is thriving in the Eredivisie.
Janssen was exceptional in his final season in the Netherlands, scoring 27 times in 34 top flight games for AZ, but then proceeded to endure a nightmare spell in the Premier League, scoring just twice in the league.
Therefore, news coming from Dutch outlet Soccer News that Spurs want Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek may perhaps leave some supporters concerned that Tottenham could be running the risk of landing another Janssen as he continues to impress in the Eredivisie and build up hope that he could be something special.
But perhaps one award that van de Beek has won just hints that the 20-year-old could become a success story with Mauricio Pochettino’s side rather than a flop.
The midfielder was named Ajax Talent of the Future in 2015. Given the reputation of the Ajax academy, winning such an award is undoubtedly a major statement for a player, and he would not be the only player in the Tottenham team to boast the accolade if he did sign.
Christian Eriksen was named Talent of the Future five years earlier in 2010, and he has since established himself as a key man for Spurs, scoring 34 Premier League goals and contributing a staggering 40 assists since arriving.
And while Tottenham signing van de Beek would still be a gamble given his age and lack of experience, the early signs certainly suggest that he has the potential to follow in Eriksen’s and Davinson Sanchez’s – who also arrived from Ajax – footsteps rather than prove to be Spurs’ next Janssen.
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