PA Sport journalist George Sessions has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur are unlikely to make a move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite as there is plenty of excitement at Hotspur Way about the central defenders who are coming through the Under-21 ranks.
Tottenham have strengthened at the back this month with the acquisition of Radu Dragusin from Genoa but the club have since continued to be linked with various centre-backs.
One of those is Branthwaite, who has emerged as one of the best young defenders in English football this season and appears to be on the cusp of breaking into the Three Lions set-up.
A couple of days ago, The Daily Mail suggested that Spurs are ‘maintaining a watching brief’ on the 21-year-old as Ange Postecoglou looks to add further reinforcements to his backline next summer.
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However, Sessions has now explained that there is a lot of excitement at Tottenham about Ashley Phillips and Alfie Dorrinton, with both centre-backs seen as future first-team prospects.
The journalist told The Spurs Chat Podcast: “I don’t think Spurs would pay the price for him (Branthwaite) and a lot of people are excited at the minute about Ashley Phillips and also Alfie Dorrington as well, understandably so because they are two exciting players Spurs have got. They’re both 18 and Jarrad is 20 or 21, and he’s only just getting into the Everton team.”
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While Tottenham may send Dorrington out on loan to the EFL next season, we might see Phillips perhaps competing for a first-team place.
Conversely, Spurs could decide to loan Phillips to a Premier League side next season so that he can test himself at the highest level. So, it is certainly not out of the question that the club might look to strengthen in central defence next summer.