Despite Valencia and Real Sociedad showing interest in Bryan Gil, Antonio Conte hinted during Friday’s press conference that the midfielder could now stay at Tottenham.
The 21-year-old has only made 20 appearances for Spurs after signing for them last summer. He did not score and only had one assist. He was then loaned out to Valencia, where he made quite an impression.
Gil, who is now back at Spurs, was an unused substitute against Southampton on Saturday, but there is interest in his services, with ‘talks said to be ongoing’ with several clubs.
Fabrizio Romano recently stated that Valencia, managed by Gennaro Gattuso, were in talks to bring him back on loan. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad is also interested. Conte, on the other hand, has hinted that he may stay at Spurs.
During his pre-mach press conference, he was asked a question about his attacking options and the Italian responded by saying (via Football.London) :
“I’m very happy with our squad because compared to last season we improved, with Richy but we lost Bergwijn. Gil went on loan but now he’s in the squad of 20 players. I think in midfield we improved with Bissouma and with WInks, and then with Lenglet behind.
We signed players with common sense, to find players with right characteristics, to help us have the quality. To have reliable players, players ready to have a good impact.”
Gil is at a point in his career where he needs regular game time, and it’s difficult to see where that will come if he stays at Spurs with their existing attacking options. Perhaps another loan move would be beneficial for the youngster.
He’s 21 and still doesn’t look strong enough for the PL and certainly not for the Championship which is even more physical. You could make a comparison with Bale who looked quite fragile earlier in his career but Gil looks more suited to La Liga. I still think we will loan him out and if he performs well, probably sell him to a Spanish club. I think you need to recruit oven ready footballers for the PL and there is nothing wrong with buying some prospects. This is a sensible strategy which Liverpool carry out very well. It’s just that our whole recruitment policy has been a shambles for over twenty years. Similar to many of the management appointments. This is what happens when you have a property speculator acting as a proxy PL CEO.
No sensible club just buys first-team ready players. Not City, not Liverpool for sure. They buy a mixture of ages and development.
What you are talking about is Manchester United
He was one for the future for sure, which is absolutely fine by me. He has incredible talent, and if you wait a year or two you could be looking at double.
As you say, 25m or so – not a cheap punt by any means. A bit of a gamble, like any signing, but high risk high reward. This is one of Spain’s young gems, and at 21 time is on our side.
I agree, but he’s quite slight and I can’t see him starting for many Premiership sides because of the physical side to it. He could certainly be more involved in the Premiership than he will be with us though.
At 60m Tangy isn’t what I’d have called a punt either, but what else was he at 22?
Agree with you, Park. I don’t necessarily believe he was a sensible signing for us, which is possibly where the Levy-punt tag is coming from. At £25m (I think), plus Lamela, is not what I would call a punt, though
Exactly this! I don’t see what benefit there is to the club in loaning him out, unless he’s learning the English game. Even championship football would be more relevant than La Liga
The problem is we have seen so many of these younger punts come in. Because we need more first team ready players as a priority, (ask Conte) their signing solves nothing in the present. They don’t play because the team are struggling to meet expectations so the senior players we have get the nod. So they go out on loan and never really fit in.
Levy is clearly obsessed with the Modric/Bale models and the huge profits they generated. The difference was that they had experience around them to develop and they were the only ones.
Also Pochettino got a very young average age side playing competitively in the Premiership a few years ago, Levy thinks this is standard. He worked a particular way and developed them as a group. That isn’t the norm, Conte doesn’t work that way and neither did Jose. Why Rodon, why Bergwjin, why Fernandez rather than one decent senior player? It’s got Daniel’s fingerprints all over it, he’s the reason why we don’t win stuff. Regardless of the countless coach’s he’s hired and fired. He and ENIC have been conning the fans from the moment they arrived, 23 years ago…
If he is 100% right, what is Levy’s strategy to sell him for a profit here? Without developing him. Not like he was cheap. Genuinely curious.
Maybe just see the signing for what it was – Paratici signing players not only for now, but also for the future. Gil was one of Europe’s most coveted young players, like Sarr, and Udogie.
On Gil himself – he is 21. Just. Still maturing physically, but a very talented lad. Bear in mind Kane at the same age had only just been given a few games under Sherwood atbrhe tail end of 2013/14, and Bale had only just had his breakthrough Spring of 2009/10. Both written off prior to it.
I really don’t understand people dismissing us signing him. He will be a great little player
At least loan him to a Prem club so he can be assessed properly
At what point does Conte say that he’s happy for Gil to stay? 😂
Develop where, in our team? He’s not ready so how does this signing benefit the team? He’s 100% right, it’s never about the football with Levy. Which is why we never win anything. Conte is pushing back against this nonsense or he’s off, Levy is only playing the game at the moment because he has no choice.
You don’t have to look very far for an angle, after 23 years and only one minor trophy …
Yep.
He’d have to develop to be flogged on for more money, so that statement makes absolutely no sense.
Spurs are in the best nick for years, enjoy it. You don’t always have to look for an angle to blame Levy for something
He wasn’t bought for development. Just for Levy to flog on for more money. Thinks everyone can be a Bale. Enic out.
Yes, it’s hard to see where Gil would have any game time, other than perhaps an early round domestic cup tie. So surely a loan would be better for his development.