Tottenham Hotspur defender Ashley Phillips is currently on loan at Championship club Stoke City, and he has been outstanding for them this season.
The 19-year-old is expected to return to his parent club upon the expiry of his loan deal, and Tottenham insider John Wenham believes that the North London club will make a decision on his future this summer.
He was linked with a return to Tottenham during the January injury crisis.
Spurs to decide on his future this summer
“It was a phenomenal loan for Phillips,” Wenham said to Tottenham News.
“He made 39 appearances, played over three thousand minutes and was well loved by the Stoke City supporters. In the last month, they said he was comfortably their best player.
“I think he’ll come back for pre-season, head on the tour of Asia, and Tottenham will make a decision on what his future holds. However, for a 19-year-old to go and dominate in a big physical side like Stoke, and become well-loved, tells me he’s got a bright future.”
Ashley Phillips should head out on loan
They are unlikely to be able to offer Phillips regular gametime in the upcoming campaign, and it would be ideal for the youngster to go on loan once again. He needs to play regularly in order to continue his development. He has the attributes to develop into a quality first-team player for Tottenham in the future. They must focus on his development and ensure that he gets regular gametime in the coming months.
Sitting on the bench at Tottenham is unlikely to benefit the 19-year-old defender. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Although there is no doubt that Tottenham need more depth in the central defensive unit, Phillips might not be ready to make his mark in the Premier League yet. Tottenham should invest in a more experienced defender this summer and send the youngster out on loan so that he can continue his development with regular football.
The defender joined Tottenham in 2023 for a fee of around £2 million. He could prove to be a bargain acquisition for the club if he manages to establish himself as a first-team player for them in future.
