The Port Vale manager and director of football have both spoken on Alfie Devine’s loan move this morning, following the official announcement from Tottenham Hotspur.
Devine has joined the League One side on a season-long loan in search of more regular minutes, with the likes of James Maddison and Giovani Lo Celso ahead of him in the Spurs pecking order.
The midfielder impressed during pre-season under Ange Postecoglou, looking like one of the sharpest players in the second half against West Ham United in Australia.
However, regular first-team senior football will be a new challenge for Devine, and a big step up from his time playing U21 football in the Tottenham academy.
Port Vale want to nurture Alfie Devine’s development
Speaking about the loan move, both Port Vale manager, Andy Crosby, and the director of football, David Flitcroft, were keen to emphasise the importance of continuing Alfie Devine’s development.
Crosby said (Port Vale): “We are delighted to be welcoming Alfie to the club and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop on and off the pitch with us here at Vale Park.
“He’s an exciting young player who shows a maturity beyond his years on the pitch and that comes as a result of the elite environments he has already experienced with Tottenham and England.
“It’s a testament to the progress the club is making on and off the pitch that top clubs are now trusting us with their best young talent, he will have the support of the staff and the players as we help him to grow.
“He will also have a part to play with our own younger players and is an example of what hard work and dedication to your career can help you achieve.”
Flitcroft added: “Alfie has been on our radar for a long time due to our Head of Recruitment Tommy Johnson knowing him as a young prospect while he was developing at Wigan Athletic.
“We have closely monitored his progress and watched him perform at Tottenham and within the England set up to outstanding levels.
“He is one of our country’s brightest young talents. An outstanding player with an attacking mindset, he has the ability to create and score goals but also has a huge enthusiasm and desire to win the ball back.
“On top of Alfie strengthening the quality of our squad, we’re pleased to be adding him to our group of exciting loanees: Kofi Balmer, Josh Thomas, and Ollie Arblaster.
“We are proud as a club to be building a first-team environment that top clubs see as a place that will help in the growth and development of their top young prospects both as players and as people.
“We would sincerely like to thank Tottenham and especially Andy Scoulding who has been superb throughout this process in making this loan move happen.
“For us as a club to be entrusted in developing Alfie as a person and player is a huge testament to the continuing development of our club under Carol and Kevin’s stewardship, their values are cascading down from the first team to academy levels and it was a big part in an elite Premier League club choosing us as a home for Alfie to continue his development.
“I’m sure the Vale fans’ warm welcome and loud support will make Alfie’s time with us at Vale Park feel home from home.”
Spurs Web Opinion:
At the end of the day, regular minutes are what Alfie Devine needs at the moment more than anything else. Finding a club that matches Ange Postecoglou’s style would also be ideal. Hopefully, this loan spell is more successful than most Tottenham have come up with in recent years.
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