Spurs sign Swedish youth star as Ange delivers message on club's recruitment strategy

Ever since Ange Postecoglou arrived in North London, the transfer priorities have been clear: sign young players that can be molded to fit Ange's tactical set-up. Micky van de Ven (22), Ashley Phillips (18), Alejo Veliz (20), Brennan Johnson (22), and Radu Dragusin (21) are all signings that Spurs have made in the 7 months since the Australian manager left the Scottish Premiership to join the company of Daniel Levy and a team reeling from an eighth place finish.

Now, news has arrived that Lucas Bergvall will be joining that list of talented players. The midfielder, who is now eligible for professional contracts after he just so happened to turn 18 today, has joined Tottenham from Djurgårdens IF Fotboll in a last minute hijacking of a nearly finalized deal with Barcelona.

Tottenham have done an incredible job at securing younger talent all over the pitch these past two transfer windows, with three signings at center-back, two at attack, and now one in the midfield all under the age of 23. But as fans rejoice over the influx of players, we must yet consider the question: what's to account for what seems like a clear shift in approach?

Certainly, the arrival of new Technical Director Johan Lange from Aston Villa, along with Ange Postecoglou's presence, could serve as some explanation for the change. However, as the gaffer noted in his most recent press conference, there' actually more to the story than the new recruitment staff.

As the manager expressed, "I don't think it's so much what we're saying, it's more what people are seeing. That's the important thing. It's like anything in life, you can try to sell a vision or something to someone but if there's tangible physical evidence of it... Anyone who has watched us since I've joined will have seen the aspirations we have to be the kind of team we want to be. That's not just me saying it, we're actually doing it. OK, we're not the finished product by any stretch but we're giving young players an opportunity. Destiny, Pape and Micky, all guys in their early 20s who have already played significant roles."

"So we're building a team. From our perspective it's pleasing and hopefully we become a club which is a preferred destination for talented young players. I've said the other day, there aren't too many hidden gems around. Everyone knows who the talents are. Hopefully our point of difference.. I've always felt your football is your biggest selling point beyond anything else. Hopefully we're showing evidence of that which is helping us," the manager concluded.

Indeed, that could have been the selling point for a player like Bergvall who won't want to make a switch to the Premier League just to ride the bench or serve in a youth team as he likely would have with Barca.

It's an exciting time to be a Spurs fan with the massive influx of youth talent, but now will come the even greater challenge: cultivating those minds and hearts to devlop a winning brand of football. Ange certainly has the experience and expertise to work with a variety of players and help them to buy into his attacking style of play that's come to be known as 'Ange-ball'. Now, he'll have to work with another youngster to see that he gets on well, and thankfully he'll have the summer months of club-friendlies to undergo that initial process.