Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling as a potential transfer target.
Head coach Ange Postecoglou has shown at the start of this campaign that he is prepared to hand opportunities to young players should he deem them good enough to feature in the Premier League.
Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore - all 19 years of age or below - have been provided with game time in England's top flight.
In the long term, Spurs are hopeful that such an approach will help them achieve long-term success, as well as in the short term as they bid to achieve Champions League football for next season.
At some point, there may be a desire to bring in more experienced talent to replace any unwanted squad players, yet that could be dependent on what options appear in the market.
© Imago
Dibling attracting more attention
While Dibling has always been highly rated having spent time in Chelsea's youth setup and been signed by Southampton, his talent has been showcased in the public eye since the international break.
As well as starring against Manchester United in a game where he won a penalty, the 18-year-old went on to score in the 1-1 draw versus Ipswich Town at the weekend.
Combined with two assists in a 5-3 EFL Cup win at Cardiff City, the teenager is naturally attracting attention from bigger clubs, including from Man United.
Nevertheless, according to HITC, there may soon be a chance for Dibling to return to the capital with Spurs.
The report claims that the North Londoners were among six clubs who had scouts present for the aforementioned encounter against Ipswich at St Mary's.
Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also said to be admirers of the prospect's ability.
© Imago
Why will Southampton struggle to keep Dibling?
In an ideal world, Southampton would like to retain Dibling's services for a number of seasons in the hope that he progresses into a Premier League star.
However, he has less than 12 months remaining on his contract, putting him in a position to hold talks with foreign clubs at the turn of the year should he not pen fresh terms.
With Southampton yet to win a Premier League game since promotion, that appears highly unlikely at this stage, and offers are inevitable unless the South-coast team are able to convince him into signing a new contract.
Darren Plant
