Tottenham could be crowded out in chase for Ryan Sessegnon

By Ryan Wrenn | Apr 12, 2017

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham and Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur during The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on February 19, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /

Until fairly recently, Tottenham seemed the only logical destination for Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon. New rumors complicate that picture however.

Prior to Tottenham’s visit to Fulham in February for their FA Cup match, the buzz surrounding Sessegnon intensified. His appearance in that match proved to be the highlight of the host’s match as they succumbed to a 3-0 loss.

The England under-21 international’s natural position is left-back. Despite starting from so deep, he finds ways to enmesh himself in the workings of the attack. His six goals and four assists for Fulham so far this season are testament enough to that.

Tottenham, of course, are hardly in need for another body at left-back. Danny Rose’s injury might be keeping him out of the side, but there is no doubt that he is among the leading full-backs in Europe at the moment. His backup, Ben Davies, is making his own mark, and recently signed a new contract to keep him at the club for the foreseeable future.

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Rose is 26 however, and Davies is 23. Still young, with plenty more years left to serve Spurs, but they have nothing on Sessegnon. The Fulham Academy product is just 16-years-old, making him perhaps the clearest long-term successor out there for Rose’s role in the England senior set up.

What’s more, his fervor in attack makes him a likely candidate for a future position change. Fulham coach Stavisa Jokanovic occasionally pushes him forward into a wide midfield role, thereby keeping him closer to goal and the team’s more dedicated goalscorers.

Tottenham, in sum, were never going to be alone in longing for Sessegnon. On Wednesday a new rumor surfaced strongly linking Liverpool with a move for the boy, while the Guardian floated the possibility that more of Spurs’ rivals are in the hunt too.

In recent transfer windows, Tottenham have not fared well in bidding wars with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. With the stadium construction underway, funds are tight. Daniel Levy’s historical reluctance to meet clubs demands — or bend to salary expectations — have sunk many a deal, and could do so again here.

Next: Just how much progress has Tottenham made?

Tottenham hold a unique advantage to those other clubs however. Sessegnon can’t realistically hope to immediately start for any of these teams. With Spurs, though, he will have a clear path to the first team. Mauricio Pochettino has made it abundantly clear that he has no problem with promoting worthy candidates from the Academy. Sessegnon need look no further than the chances given to Harry Winks and Cameron Carter-Vickers this season to see how his future with the club might look.