Paul Merson pays Spurs compliment, has a message for Jose Mourinho

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson says Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho will have to show how good a coach he is and start bringing young players through at Spurs in wake of financial uncertainty within the football industry.

With most football worldwide currently at a standstill since March due to the global health crisis, the entire industry is set for a huge financial blow, which means big-money transfers are almost certainly off the agenda this summer.

Much of the transfer speculation this summer has centred around talented free agents, or young gems that can be turned into great players, and Arsenal legend Merson believes that managers’ coaching abilities will be tested more than ever before.

“For me, this is where coaches become coaches. It’s all well and good buying £80m players all the time. Seriously, what do you need to coach an £80m player? If you’re coaching an £80m player, telling them what they need to do, he isn’t worth £80m,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“The good coaches will come to the fore, and those that aren’t will struggle. Some will blossom, some will not. I think this situation really helps youth players, because you’re going to have to give them a chance. There are some brilliant kids out there who don’t get chances because clubs can go out and buy a £50m player in the blink of an eye.

“Managers like Jose Mourinho will have to start making youth team players better. He’ll have to start concentrating on bringing players through, and showing how good a coach he is. Tottenham have some brilliant kids, don’t worry about that.”

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Spurs certainly have some great young talents in their ranks, both on the fringes of the first team and in the academy.

Troy Parrott, Oliver Skipp, Japhet Tanganga and Ryan Sessegnon fall in the first camp, while the likes of Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Dennis Cirkin and Harvey White are just a few who have impressed at youth and reserve level.

With Chelsea and Arsenal both having done well this term in terms of breakthrough youngsters, Tottenham ought to be next in line – and Mourinho, despite prior criticism, has done quite well over the years in terms of coaching talented youngsters to the next level.

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