Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with the young forward.
According to a report from Sunday’s print edition of French publication L’Equipe, Tottenham Hotspur have made a proposal to sign teenage striker Calvin Tshilumba from Stade Lavallois.
And that raises an interesting question regarding the current youngsters fighting for a first-team spot at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham are not exactly short of options in that regard, with big things expected of Shayon Harrison, Kazaiah Sterling and Reo Griffiths in due course. So what would Tshilumba’s arrival mean for that trio…and for Spurs’ plans overall?
It could well be that Tottenham are simply not prepared to stand still and want to add even more strength in depth.
They will have seen what an overreliance on one striker can do at first-team level, with Harry Kane streets ahead of the likes of Vincent Janssen and Heung-min Son, so is Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino ensuring he has a whole raft of striking options for the next generation?
Then there is the fact that for every prolific forward at under-18 and under-23 level, there are almost as many tales of what could have been.
At this stage of their careers, Harrison, Sterling and Griffiths all look like the real deal, but Pochettino will know the importance of covering all bases, and Tshilumba offers another chance of getting it right long term.
The teenager’s addition could also push the current crop of Tottenham strikers to get even better, knowing as they do the increased challenges for places both now and further down the line when first-team football is more likely.
Whatever the case, Tottenham are clearly continuing to strengthen their academy despite possessing a number of unpolished gems, and that can only be a good thing.
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