Postecoglou outlines Spurs' ambition: a preferred destination for young players

Ange Postecoglou believes the flair, adventure and opportunity on display in his Tottenham team is helping to attract exciting young players from around the world.

Spurs are closing in on the signing of 17-year-old midfielder Lucas Bergvall from Djurgarden in Sweden after convincing him to snub Barcelona. Last month, they persuaded Romanian defender Radu Dragusin, 21, to join them for £26.7million from Genoa despite strong interest from Bayern Munich.

But Postecoglou warned they must improve their academy production line to compete at the top.

'We've got a lot of work to do in our academy,' said the Spurs boss. 'I don't think we have the production line other top clubs have, certainly not. Even currently, that's why we're investing in some younger players, even for the first team. For us as a football club that's definitely the way forward.

'My brief at the moment is still very much around the first team, building a first team and you can do that while giving opportunities to young players.

'Sustainable success is the best way to go because the team grows together when it's guys of similar ages as long as you've got good experience around them.

'That's what we're doing at first team level. We've still got a lot of work to do at academy level.'

Postecoglou said academy director Simon Davies was leading the challenge.

'We've got a great man there in Simon,' added Postecoglou. 'He has worked at some of best academies going and he knows what's needed. We've got some good coaches in there. This year has been better but in terms of a production line of young players I think we're still well behind other clubs.'

Even so, the capture of Bergvall from under the noses of Barcelona represents another recruitment coup for Tottenham.

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