Roberto De Zerbi receives warning about overlooking ‘selfless’ Tottenham star
Tony Cascarino has given Tottenham Hotspur and Roberto De Zerbi a big warning over the future of a Spurs youngster, who struggled for game time under the Italian last season.
Spurs have already moved on several of their young guns this summer, and reports indicate that five more senior players could leave Tottenham as De Zerbi continues rebuilding his squad.
That includes Lucas Bergvall, who is of interest to Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
When asked about the Swede, De Zerbi has said that he does not want to keep any player who is not proud to play for Spurs, but the Tottenham boss has now been handed a warning about another 20-year-old’s future.
Tottenham told they will be making a mistake by selling Archie Gray
Like Bergvall, Archie Gray also found starts hard to come by after De Zerbi took over the reins from Igor Tudor.
Gray was linked with a move away from Spurs earlier this summer, but several sources have indicated over the last few weeks that Tottenham have no intention of listening to offers for the former Leeds man.
Cascarino believes that the 20-year-old’s lack of starts under De Zerbi was due to being moved around a lot by previous Spurs managers, and warned the Lilywhites not to let the England U21 international go.
The former Chelsea man told talkSPORT’s Weekend Sports Breakfast: “I hope they don’t lose Archie Gray. He was the best player until De Zerbi came because then he left him out immediately. And the reasons why were that he hadn’t found a fixed position for himself.
“Like as a midfielder, a full-back, a centre-half, you know, he was doing all these roles, selfless in many ways, but he’d not had a fixed position. I didn’t think De Zerbi liked that, but hopefully he can find a way because I think he’s a real talent.
“(Lucas) Bergvall could leave the football club, maybe, but I don’t think Spurs should lose for me, Archie Gray. I think is still a real player in there.”
Roberto De Zerbi has said he is ‘lucky’ to have Gray at Spus
The Tottenham boss’ latest comments about the 20-year-old following the 2-0 win over Aucland come as confirmation that he is not going anywhere.
De Zerbi said he is ‘lucky’ to have a versatile player like Gray in his squad, and remarked that the midfielder is an example for other youngsters at the North London club.
The Leeds academy graduate was given the captain’s armband against Auckland, with Gray admitting that it was a ‘special feeling’ to lead the Lilywhites, even if it was just a pre-season game.
