Former Tottenham boss labels Spurs raid on Hearts 'shrewd' as he summons 'next Harry Kane' hunt theory
The Hearts player has joined Tottenham on loan with an option to buy.
A former Tottenham manager reckons James Wilson’s move from Hearts to Spurs could be part of the Premier League club’s next superstar hunt plans.
The striker was involved in the senior Scotland side last season amid form at Tynecastle but minutes this season have been limited in the Premiership. Still 18, Wilson was tracked by Premier League sides interested in his potential before breaking into the Hearts team, and now Tottenham have made their move on loan with an option to buy.
Arsenal were also interested but Spurs clinched a deadline day deal, with Hearts boss Derek McInnes admitting last week that he wished Wilson would have stayed put in Scotland. Tim Sherwood, who featured for Spurs as a player before managing them between 2013-14, knows his ex-side are still hunting for their next bona fide star after Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich in 2023. He wonders if signing talents like Wilson are their way of trying to mould the next big hit.
James Wilson to Tottenham assessed
Sherwood told Casinostugan: “Tottenham have done the right thing for James Wilson. It’s not like he’s been starting many games for them, so it’s a little bit of a strange one. He won’t make or break the title race for Hearts but then again they are just poking their noses past the Old Firm at the moment so maybe Tottenham think Wilson has more of a chance to be playing here than in the Scottish Premiership. It could be a shrewd move.
“Are Tottenham signing youngsters like Wilson to try and find the next Harry Kane? I don’t know when the next Harry Kane would even get the chance to come through now, or any of the kids at Tottenham. They’re not getting a real opportunity to play because the club keep signing players who are not that good and they block the pathways and stunt the growth of these kids as footballers.
“Someone at the top needs to say we want our academy boys to have the opportunity to play and then that takes the pressure off the manager a little but I think it’s the perfect opportunity for Thomas Frank to take the pressure off himself.”
Why James Wilson signed for Tottenham
Wilson said of his move to Spurs: “I'm buzzing. It happened so quickly for me. Deadline day was a busy day. It all happened so quickly, and then yeah, it's nice to be here. I'm buzzing to be at Spurs. I've been to London but not properly to visit. Used it as a kind of travelling base. It’ll be the first time leaving home so even that will be a challenge, just getting used to me having to cook for myself, having to clean for myself.
“It's a great opportunity for me. A new environment. It's a big thing. I've been at Hearts since I was nine. So getting this environment, of just trying something different, and yeah, hopefully make the most of it.
“The training ground is incredible. It looks so new. The pitches look incredible. I mean, I'm loving the kit, everything about it, it looks amazing. I think I would be someone who wants to get in the box and score goals.