Ashley Phillips caught the eye during his season-long loan at Stoke City before heading back to Tottenham Hotspur.
Ashley Phillips has been told he must deliver an exceptional pre-season if he wants to avoid a future of repeated loan moves and a likely exit from Tottenham Hotspur.
The 20-year-old centre-back returns to Spurs after a successful loan spell at Stoke City, where he played regularly and became a key part of the team. After joining Stoke in August, Phillips broke into the starting XI in late October and stayed there, forming a strong defensive partnership with Ben Wilmot that helped keep the Potters in the Championship.
Phillips, who moved to Tottenham from Blackburn Rovers in 2023, also spent part of the 2023/24 season at Plymouth Argyle. He’s now hoping to impress new Spurs manager Thomas Frank, who has added Kevin Danso and Kota Takai to his centre-back options this summer. With Luka Vuskovic now officially at the club and Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, and Alfie Dorrington all available, competition for places is fierce.
Although a Championship loan seems unlikely, a temporary move to a European side remains possible. Sheffield United have shown interest, but nothing is confirmed.
Spurs reporter Alasdair Gold noted that Phillips didn’t get much of a chance under former boss Ange Postecoglou but earned praise during his loan stints. With new signings further crowding the defence, Phillips faces a pivotal summer. Gold added that unless the young defender delivers a standout pre-season, his time at Spurs may end up being just a stepping stone between loan deals.
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