Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly earmarked two English talents whom they want to lead their youth-driven revolution for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Lilywhites have experienced a dramatic fall from grace under Ange Postecoglou, who last season made history as the first Premier League manager to take as many as 26 points from his first 10 games in charge.
However, fast-forward a year and a half later, and the Lilywhites are entrenched in the bottom half of the Premier League table, having lost four of their opening five top-flight matches of 2025.
Spurs also suffered EFL Cup semi-final heartache at the hands of Liverpool on Thursday night, being subjected to a humiliating 4-0 defeat, and their FA Cup credentials also face a tough test against Aston Villa in Sunday's fourth-round clash.
Postecoglou could allegedly find his job in jeopardy if Tottenham are beaten at Villa Park, but they are through to the Europa League last 16, and chairman Daniel Levy is sympathetic to the team's crushing injury crisis.
Tottenham to pursue summer deals for Adam Wharton, Tyler Dibling?
![England Euro 2024 squad File photo dated 26-03-2024 of Adam Wharton[IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/adam-wharton.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "England Euro 2024 squad File photo dated 26-03-2024 of Adam Wharton[IMAGO]")
© Imago
The Spurs chief has sought to alleviate his side's debilitating fitness situation with January moves for Antonin Kinsky, Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso, the latter two of whom could also join permanently at the end of the season.
Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, FootballTransfers claims that 'internal discussions' have already been held over deals for Southampton's Tyler Dibling and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton.
Following the recruitment of the youthful Kinsky and Tel, Tottenham supposedly intend to continue pursuing the best embryonic talent, and both the 18-year-old Dibling and 21-year-old Wharton fit the bill.
The Lilywhites could apparently make an 'aggressive push' to sign both players this summer, although the report adds that Spurs will find it difficult to secure both of their signatures ahead of 2025-26.
Saints attacker Dibling is also said to have caught the eye of Manchester United after a breakthrough season with the Premier League's basement team, scoring four goals and setting up two more in 24 games in all tournaments.
Meanwhile, Wharton seamlessly slotted into the Palace engine room after joining from Blackburn Rovers midway through last season, although injuries have restricted him to just 11 appearances this term.
Youth offers Tottenham hope in humbling Premier League season
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As more and more senior Tottenham players enter the treatment room, Postecoglou has had little choice but to populate his bench - and often his first XI - with prospects who were either babies or toddlers when the club won their most recent major trophy in 2008.
However, such fledgling talents have often risen to the challenge in a Tottenham shirt; take the recent 3-0 Europa League win over Elfsborg, where Dane Scarlett, Mikey Moore and Damola Ajayi secured Spurs' place in the last 16.
Summer signing Archie Gray has already proven indispensable at the back as Spurs manage their defensive shortages, while teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall has made quite the impact too, netting the winner in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final versus Liverpool.
Expect Postecoglou to continue utilising young talent in Sunday's FA Cup match with Villa, where Tel is expected to make his first start for Spurs following Richarlison's latest injury.
Ben Knapton
