Tottenham Hotspur fly out on Saturday for their first summer tour in three years as they travel to South Korea to continue their pre-season preparations.
Spurs will take on Team K League - a selection of the best players from Korea's professional league - in Seoul on July 13 before facing Sevilla at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on July 16. football.london understands that, as of Tuesday, head coach Antonio Conte had yet to confirm to some of the younger players involved in training which of them would be travelling with the squad to South Korea as he observed them in sessions.
The summer tours have often proved to be the making of some of Tottenham's young players, with Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga impressing in recent ones and earning themselves their Premier League debuts. Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett, who were both on the bench a number of times towards the end of last season, could be given extra time off after their exploits at the European U19 Championship, however.
With that in mind, it's time to take a look at which young players could turn Conte's head in Korea next week.
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Troy Parrott
It feels like a long time ago now and shows how young he was, but Parrott impressed Mauricio Pochettino during Tottenham's last summer tour to Singapore and Shanghai back in 2019.
Having only turned 20 this year and with loan spells at MK Dons, Ipswich and Millwall behind him, as well as goals on the senior international stage for Republic of Ireland, Parrott has come on leaps and bounds and is looking to catch Conte's eye as he finally gets to train and possibly play under the Italian coach.
football.london reported last month that Parrott's plan is to spend another season out on loan before returning to really challenge for a place in the first team squad at Spurs in the 2023/24 season. The youngster is understood to be desperate to make his mark at the club that brought him over to England in 2017.
Showing Conte what he can do in Korea if taken would be a big first step for a young player already long considered to be one of Ireland's most promising talents.
Bryan Gil
It's not only about the academy players getting their chance as one of last summer's signings would no doubt like the opportunity to prove Conte wrong.
The Spurs head coach publicly stated that the club had not done their due diligence in scouting whether Gil would be physically suited to the Premier League, despite a couple of promising appearances from the Spain international in his early months at the club. The 21-year-old was duly loaned out to Valencia and the belief still holds in his homeland that he is one of the most talented young players they have produced in recent years.
Conte is likely to leave some senior players out of the tour squad in order for them to find new clubs and Gil, who has a long contract with Spurs, could move on loan again this summer but if he heads to Korea he's got the chance to try to make Conte see him in a different light.
Kion Etete
Parrott isn't the only young striker looking to catch the Italian's eye with Etete having been involved training with Conte's squad this week.
Also just 20, the 6ft 3ins forward had his own big season of development in the Football League with his loan spells at Cheltenham Town and Northampton Town during the campaign as he stepped up the divisions.
Netting 10 goals and laying on five assists last season across all competitions, Etete falls into the cliché of a big man with great feet and he fits the mould of a Conte target man well. With Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlison all available to play up front in Korea, albeit at different stages of fitness, it remains to be seen whether Conte will need Scarlott, Parrott and Etete as well on the trip.
Pape Matar Sarr
Another player signed last summer but only getting the chance now to meet up with his Tottenham team-mates is Pape Matar Sarr.
The 19-year-old faced a tough, bruising season on loan back at Metz and played 34 times, but despite his best efforts he could not keep the struggling team in Ligue 1. Touted as one of the brightest prospects in the French league, the Senegal international will be looking to show that he is ready for the very different challenge of the Premier League.
The teenager needs to improve his English language skills and he will naturally fill out his frame physically, but his versatility could be a useful tool for Conte as he can play in most midfield roles. The problem for Sarr could be Spurs' excessive foreign player numbers, particularly in their Champions League squad, but he has the chance to state his case to remain at the club at least until January with his efforts this summer.
Harvey White
The 21-year-old Spurs academy product was in and around the first team squad a lot last season, on the bench in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa Conference League as well as being named as a substitute for in a remarkable total of 19 Premier League matches without being given the nod to come on to the pitch.
White signed a four-year contract in 2020 and has that time on his side, but he was not able to build on his two senior appearances the previous season and a successful loan at Portsmouth with any more senior game time in the last campaign.
The versatile young player can play as a defensive or advanced central midfielder or as a left-back and is one of the best set piece takers at the club. He needs another loan but his homegrown status and versatility could just see Conte want to keep him around again next season and he can push his claims in Korea if taken in a now crowded midfield.
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