Tottenham transfer news: Southampton deal Spurs a Thierry Small blow

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Southampton are now set to send Thierry Small to St Mirren on loan. Tottenham Hotspur were interested in a transfer for the defender but failed to agree on terms with the Saints.

That is according to The Athletic (31/01, 15:00), which reports Tottenham have spoken to Southampton over the permanent transfer of Small. But the north London and south coast sides could not agree on a fee for his services, nor could Spurs settle on his personal terms.

So, Southampton will instead loan Small out to St Mirren while the left-back will revisit his situation in the summer. The 18-year-old has been at St Mary’s since August 2021 when he quit Everton. He had rejected the chance to sign a professional contract at Goodison Park.

Small felt a transfer to Southampton would provide the faster route to first-team football than he faced at Everton. Yet he has only managed to make one outing for the club before joining Port Vale on loan last July. Nathan Jones recalled the defender after taking charge.

Ralph Hasenhuttl sought to send the England U18 talent out on loan last year having only fielded him once. Small featured for 45 minutes as Southampton beat Coventry City in the FA Cup fourth round last February. He had enjoyed one senior outing with Everton in 2021.

Small to Tottenham is off after Southampton fail to agree on terms for his transfer

Caro Ancelotti made Small the youngest player in Everton’s history with his debut in the FA Cup against Sheffield Wednesday. Yet the full-back questioned his future at the Blues once Rafa Benitez took charge. But his decision to transfer to the Saints has not yet worked out.

Now, Small is off to join St Mirren on loan after his permanent transfer from Southampton to Tottenham fell through. Spurs could potentially reassess his suitability for a move in the summer when the Solihull-born prospect will have a year left on his contract at St Mary’s.

Southampton offered Small a three-year deal to quit Everton after five years. The Toffees’ former U21 boss David Unsworth hailed the defender as ‘fantastic’ during his time at the Merseyside outfit. He appreciated Small for his ‘great pace and power’ in an attacking role.