Southampton are closely monitoring the progress of Tottenham youth player Michael Craig, who is currently training with the Saints.
According to Hampshire Live, Southampton have expressed the desire to sign Michael Craig. They have brought in the Tottenham youth player on trial and are set to monitor his performances at the training camp before potentially making a move to sign him up on a permanent deal.
A native of London, Craig has been a part of the Tottenham academy since the age of twelve. In recent years, the youngster has enjoyed swift growth, rising through the youth ranks to gain promotion to the reserve side last summer. Although yet to make his first-team debut with Spurs, he notably made the bench in the club’s UEFA Conference League fixture against Vitesse, alongside his twin brother Matthew.
A defensive midfielder by trade, Craig has played a key role for the Spurs U23 side in the Elite Development League this term. However, his association with the north London outfit may soon come to an end, with the youngster recently arriving at Southampton for a trial.
The Saints have enjoyed a lot of success when it comes to signing talented young players in the recent past. Last summer, they notably brought in Chelsea duo Tino Livramento and Armando Broja, with the latter emerging as one of the rising stars in the Premier League this term. Southampton have already expressed the desire to sign the Chelsea starlet on a permanent deal, although his future is yet to be decided.
Nevertheless, the Saints have set their sights on further reinforcements in the youth department. Michael Craig fits the bill, having established himself as one of the best up and coming talents in the Tottenham academy.
That said, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side can expect strong resistance from Tottenham in their pursuit of Craig. The north London club have shown an emphasis on youth development recently, targeting multiple young talents, including non-league star Fin Barker, along with Blackburn Rovers prodigy Ashley Phillips.
Given the shift in policy, the Londoners will be keen on holding on to the services of one of their most promising prospects in the academy. Someone like Craig has a substantial chance of making his breakthrough in the near future, following in the footsteps of fellow academy graduate Oliver Skipp. But with the Lilywhites allowing him to train with Southampton, there could be a chance he ends up moving.
