Less than a month after making his Premier League debut Matthew Craig must decide whether to accept a new contract from Tottenham Hotspur before his deal ends this month.
The 20-year-old made his Spurs and Premier League debut last month after acting head coach Ryan Mason brought him on for the final 13 minutes or so of the final day victory at Leeds United. That Elland Road experience was the 10th time Craig has been named in a matchday squad for the first team, having achieved that seven times under Antonio Conte the previous season before Mason took the reins.
Now the young Scotland U21 midfielder, who can also play in central defence or as a full-back on either side, must decide whether to continue his Tottenham journey, having first joined as an U12 player, within the new Ange Postecoglou era or make the move elsewhere. He has been a regular for the club's U21s this season, starting every single game for the side and often captaining them.
"I’m really proud for myself and everyone who has been involved in the journey along the way,” Craig said after his first team debut. "As a young boy, everyone dreams of making their Premier League debut some day and I’m lucky enough to do it.
"Every day that you’re in the building, it’s just working towards getting over into the first team and I think I’ve tried to do that as much as possible this year, and also in the past as well. On a personal note, I’m happy because it feels like the culmination of everything you do every day. George [Abbott] has worked really hard this year as well and I’m pleased for him too."
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Craig's U21s team-mate Nile John is also considering a contract offer from the club amid interest in his services.
The club's retained/released list on Friday confirmed that Lucas Moura and Arnaut Danjuma's time at the club has come to an end while Clement Lenglet's loan period, which had no option to buy, has come to a close. Dejan Kulusevski is on neither retained nor released list, as he is on loan with the club expected to make his deal permanent.
Development squad players Jamie Bowden, Kallum Cesay, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Roshaun Mathurin, Marqes Muir and Romaine Mundle, who is technically classified as retained with offer having also had a new deal offered to him but rejected, have all left following the end of their contracts. U18 players Thomas Bloxham, Brandon Bryan-Waugh and Riley Owen also departed following the conclusion of their scholarships.
Scholar Dante Cassanova also has offer from the club to consider while Billy Heaps has had his scholarship extended to a third year.
Here is the club's full retained list:
Contracts
Abbott, George Benedict
Andiyapan, William
Arganese-Mcdermott, Pele
Ashcroft, Tyrell
Austin, Brandon Anthony
Bentancur, Rodrigo
Bissouma, Yves
Craig, Matthew George (Offer)
Davies, Benjamin Thomas
De Andrade, Richarlison
De Santiago Alonso, Yago
Devine, Alfie Sean
Dier, Eric Jeremy Edgar
Donley, Jamie Paul
Forster, Fraser Gerard
Gil Salvatierra, Bryan
Gunter, Luca Jackson
Hojbjerg, Pierre Emile Kordt
Hall, Tyrese Shaun
Heung-Min, Son
John, Nile Omari Mckenzie (Offer)
Kane, Harry
Keeley, Josh
Kyerematen, Rio
Lankshear William
Leite De Souza Junior, Emerson Aparecido
Linton, Jahziah
Lloris, Hugo
Lo Celso, Giovani
Lyons-Foster, Brooklyn
Maguire, Aaron Joseph
McKnight, Maxwell
Mundle, Romaine Lee (Offer)
Ndombele Alvaro, Tanguy
Parrott, Troy Daniel
Paskotsi, Maksim
Perisic, Ivan
Reguilon Rodriguez, Sergio
Robson, Max
Rodon, Joseph Peter
Romero, Cristian Gabriel
Sanchez Mina, Davinson
Sarr, Pape Matar
Sayers, Charlie
Scarlett, Dane Pharrell
Sessegnon, Kouassi Ryan
Skipp, Oliver William
Soonsup-Bell, Jude Jacob
Spence, Diop Djed
Tanganga, Japhet Manzambi
Udogie, Iyenoma Destiy
White, Harvey David
Whiteman, Alfie Malik
Williams, Jaden Pharell Earl
Winks, Harry
Scholars
Ajayi, Oyindamola Oluwatobi Peter
Akhamrich, Yusuf
Black, Leo Amarri John-Baptiste
Bloedorn, Carey Brian
Cassanova, Dante Jamel (Offer)
Heaps, Billy (Extended)
Irow, Oliver
King, Maeson Bradley
Krasniqi, Elliot
Morgan, Kieran Lloyd
Rowswell, James Patrick Lynch
Simons, Zachariah Martin
Willhoft-King, Gabriel Han
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