Tottenham Hotspur have clear needs in the January transfer window, starting with another central defender. What happens after that is up for debate and varies depending on who you read or listen to — a forward/dribbling winger and centralmidfielder are the primary options.
But their clear first team needs may not impact the club’s recent trend towards making player acquisitions for the future. We’ve seen a number of moves in that regard lately, from Jude Soonsup-Bell to Alfie Devine. Now there’s a rumor that Tottenham might be adding another one. According to DH Sports in Belgium, Tottenham have offered a four year contract to 18-year old Belgian and Jong Ajax central midfielder Stanis Idumbo-Muzambo.
There isn’t much I can tell you about this kid because, frankly, he has yet to break through into first team football. What I can tell from some cursory research, is that he’s highly talented, has a solid belief in his own ability to be a successful top level footballer in the future, has scored three goals in 11 Jong Ajax matches in an injury-shortened season, and that his contract expires in 2024. He also has a name that sounds like a crossover character between Disney and Game of Thrones, and yes I know some of you were thinking the same thing.
Predictably he does already have a WELCOME TO TOTTENHAM SKILLS TRICKS HIGHLIGHTS YouTube compilation video. He appears to be a fast dribbly wide midfielder/inside forward type of player who likes to take opponents on, cut inside, and shoot. But again, this all should be taken within the context that the kid’s 18 and playing U21 football in the Netherlands at present.
Idumbo seems to be running his deal down in order to decide his own future, and according to the report Spurs are offering him a four year plan — a half-season training with the first team at Tottenham, with the club deciding afterwards if he’ll be in Ange Postecolgou’s plans for the next season or if he’ll be loaned out for additional experience. Tottenham provides “the most concrete avenue” for Idumbo, though he also has a deal on the table from Monaco who would plan to loan him out immediately to Cercle Brugge in the Belgian Pro League.
If this happens, is he destined for the first team? Hell if I know. And that’s maybe beside the point. The new recruitment team at Tottenaham seem committed to snaffling up young talented players who are disaffected at their current clubs or seeking something new. Maybe Idumbo becomes the dribbly wide midfielder we need. More realistically he’s a player whom we can loan out and then flip for a profit in a couple of seasons while getting experience in the PL2 and/or out on loan. Either’s fine — football academies at clubs of Tottenham’s level rarely produce solid first team starters, but if run well they do a great job of raising additional funds to channel into transfers for first team starters.
Sounds like Idumbo hasn’t made up his mind yet, but if this happens I’m all for it. Why not! It’s a safe bet on a young player who could end up pretty good. And who knows, if we keep playing the lottery, maybe one day we’ll win again.