Paul Robinson is unsurprised that Tottenham are apparently interested in signing Leeds United youngster Ollie Pickles.
Spurs and Newcastle United, both in the Premier League, are thought to be interested in the 16-year-old.
While Pickles has yet to break into the first squad, Robinson believes it is now common for teams to take a chance on youthful talent.
“The thing with clubs now, not just in this country but globally, is that the recruitment setup is bigger than it has ever been,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News when questioned about the Pickles rumours.
“The scouting network and the professionals hired by clubs to scout players, whether from the ages of five or six or all the way up to poaching Under-18s, are all seeking for that edge and the best around.
“There is a lot of ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out) because many of these large teams want these younger guys.
“They’re willing to go head-to-head with each other and there’s a lot of transfer fees now for players who are untried and untested.”
Who is Tottenham’s target Ollie Pickles?
Pickles plays regularly for Leeds’ Under-18s and has already been compared to a certain Kalvin Phillips, who cost the Whites a lot of money to sign.
The hope is that the youthful talent will continue to develop at Thorp Arch and become a first-team regular in the coming years, similar to previous fan favourite Phillips.
Daniel Farke has demonstrated that he is not hesitant to deploy younger players, with Archie Gray standing out this season.
Finally, if a team like Tottenham comes in for Pickles in the summer, the player will have to make a decision about his future. It’s difficult to turn down a top Premier League club.
At the same time, the midfielder is well aware that remaining at Leeds will provide him with additional first-team opportunities in the near future.
But hopefully, no decision will be made, and the recent buzz is nothing more than speculation.
