Alasdair Gold admits he is puzzled by one Tottenham transfer decision

Alasdair Gold has questioned the logic of sending Bryan Gil on loan to Spain instead of loaning the winger to a Premier League club this summer.

Gil has been an unused substitute in all three of Tottenham’s Premier League games so far this season and reports have indicated that the Spaniard has impressed Antonio Conte in training since his return for pre-season (Sky Sports live blog -16 Aug, 10:15).

However, according to the latest reports from Spain, the 21-year-old is now close to returning to the Mestalla on a season-long loan.

The print edition Mundo Deportivo (23/08/22 as relayed by Sport Witness) claimed on Tuesday that Gil is ‘closer than ever’ to joining Gennaro Gattuso’s side. The report added that ‘only a few details’ need to be ironed out before the loan move is officially confirmed.

Gold questioned why Spurs did not loan Gil out to another English club in order to speed up his adaptation to the Premier League.

The journalist wrote in Football.London: “That there is currently no suggestion of an option to buy (in Valencia’s loan deal for Gil) suggests Tottenham have not yet given up on the talented young Spaniard and feel that he can yet develop. If so, it makes you wonder why a loan back to Spain is the choice being made.

“Of course, Gil will feel comfortable and he admitted during his January loan to Valencia that his family had wanted him to return, but is another Spanish return the best option for Premier League adaptation?

“There is no doubt that he can continue to develop in Spain in his natural environment and playing regularly, but it does him no favours in creating a Premier League-ready player.

“A move to another side in the English top flight or even a loan to the similarly paced and physical Bundesliga would have been more helpful in that respect.

“It seems unlikely that no Premier League sides showed interest in taking one of Spain’s top young talents and if they didn’t perhaps that said something about Tottenham’s decision to sign him for the English game.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I think Tottenham’s decision might have been heavily influenced by Gil’s own preference to return to Valencia. The winger might have wanted to return to familiar surroundings in order to give himself the best chance of making an impression on Spain boss Luis Enrique before he selects the squad for the World Cup.

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