Report: Spurs coaches have big hopes for 18-year-old who Mourinho thinks is ‘quality’

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Tottenham Hotspur coaches are reportedly hoping that Spurs academy ace Dennis Cirkin can become the first top-quality left-back developed by the club since Danny Rose, according to Football London.

Although Rose came through the ranks at Leeds United, he left Elland Road for Tottenham without having played a single game for the Whites, and initially plied his trade at academy and reserve level for Spurs.

The 29-year-old has made upwards of 200 competitive appearances for Tottenham, but is currently on loan at Newcastle United and his future at N17 looks very uncertain.

Cirkin, meanwhile, has been working his way up the ranks in the Spurs academy and Jose Mourinho gave him a spot on the bench for the FA Cup replay against Middlesbrough earlier this year.

Described by the Tottenham website as a “talented left-back who reads the game well and isn’t shy of pushing forward to support the attack“, the 18-year-old is yet to play an Under-23 game this season.

However, Mourinho himself recently admitted that the UEFA Youth League regular had been given a chance to train with the first team in January, describing him as a “kid with a lot of quality”.

The Football London claims that Cirkin already has a lot of fans at Spurs, with many tipping him for a bright future in the first team, and the academy coaches are hoping he can progress to Rose-level.

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Cirkin has shown he’s a cut above at age level for Spurs, and as such it’s little surprise to see him tipped for stardom, with Mourinho already a fan.

Granted, the jump between age level and senior level is huge, and the 18-year-old will need to keep doing what he’s doing and progressing ahead of being risked at senior level.

That said, there is certainly scope for Mourinho to give him runouts in cup competitions next term, with the occasional Premier League cameo, or perhaps send him on loan to an EFL side to get experience.