Tottenham up against Manchester clubs and Liverpool in pursuit of 17-year-old defensive prodigy

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly set their sights on one of the best young players in the Republic of Ireland.

According to 90Min, Spurs are one of multiple Premier League sides in pursuit of St Patrick’s Athletic defender Sam Curtis.

As well as Tottenham, the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool also want to sign the 17-year-old talent.

In addition, it looks as though all these clubs have a good chance of signing Curtis. The report adds that St Pat’s “fully expect” the player to leave in their off-season.

The League of Ireland season runs from February to November, so there would be no mid-season disruption were Curtis to leave in the January window.

Tottenham eyeing ‘complete, elegant and dominant’ defensive talent

Spurs currently have the most in-form Under-21 team in the country. They have won all eight of their Premier League 2 games so far this season.

Curtis would likely go into the youth ranks to begin with, but he certainly seems to have what it takes to potentially break into a Premier League club’s first-team.

The teenager has already made 60 competitive senior appearances for St Pat’s, including 36 this term, during which he has registered three goals and three assists.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout has described Curtis as a “complete, elegant, and dominant centre-back” who is “versatile and well-rounded/able to play anywhere along the backline”.

Kulig also gave Curtis an 8 out of 10 potential rating, suggesting he is “first-team material in a top European club”, and compared him to Atletico Madrid and Uruguay star Jose Maria Gimenez.

As per Transfermarkt, 27 of Curtis’ appearances during the 2023 campaign have come at right-back, while 10 have been at centre-back.

Curtis certainly looks like a good shout for Tottenham’s setup. However, there will no doubt be competition from other Premier League giants for his signature.