Tottenham prepare surprise bid for record-breaking defender from relegated side, with agents informed

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to make a second approach for Thierry Small after the defender’s loan spell at St Mirren from Southampton, a report has claimed.

Small still holds the record for becoming Everton’s youngest ever player at the age of 16 in January 2021. However, after his move to Southampton later that year, he remains without a Premier League appearance to his name.

Southampton sent Small on loan to Port Vale for the first half of this season and then St Mirren for the second. By the time the defender returns, he will find himself at a Championship club after Saints suffered relegation.

However, the left-back could yet be lifted back up to the Premier League by Tottenham. A report from Football Insider relays that Spurs failed with an £800,000 bid for Small in January, when Southampton were asking for £1.2m.

Now, it is claimed that Tottenham are ready to make a new offer for Small – and they have told his representatives what their intentions are.

It is not yet clear how much Tottenham will put on the table this time around. But with Southampton only having Small under contract until 2024, they are ready to try their luck again.

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Other suitors for the 18-year-old include Rangers and St Mirren themselves, who would like to explore renewing his loan stay in Scotland if possible.

But Tottenham – who are yet to appoint a new head coach and still have uncertainty about a sporting director position – could offer the teenager the chance to continue developing in England.

Tottenham target has started to progress with St Mirren

Small has played 15 times for St Mirren since his switch north of the border. In contrast, he only featured eight times for Port Vale – and only half of those appearances came in League One.

Back with his parent club, Small is yet to add another appearance to his debut from an FA Cup match in February 2022.

It is unlikely he would slot straight into Tottenham’s first team either, but he could gradually develop within their academy. Although he burst onto the scene a couple of years ago, Small is still a young player with many years ahead of him.

His representatives will have to carefully plot out the next steps of his career after he finally earned a bit of regular gametime over the past few months.

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Although the report does not mention this solution, perhaps Tottenham should think about sending him on loan back to St Mirren if they can sign him, in order for his development to continue.

Any decision like that would have to wait until business can be done with Southampton.

Interestingly, Tottenham have also been tipped to pick up a couple of other, more established Southampton stars. For example, Gavin Bazunu has become one of the goalkeepers in contention to succeed Hugo Lloris.

Spurs have also been suggested as potential takers for James Ward-Prowse, who has spent his entire career with Southampton until now.