Mauricio Pochettino admits Spurs youngsters now have to be extra special

Mauricio Pochettino has said it is harder for Tottenham’s academy players to break into the first team than when he arrived at the club, as he reflected on his decision to loan out Cameron Carter-Vickers and Marcus Edwards.

The manager is also struggling to add to his squad for the second half of the season. One reason is cost, another the quality of his existing players. “It’s difficult but we always dream,” Pochettino said.

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Tottenham are interested in Bordeaux’s £45m-rated winger Malcom but an attempt to get him in the summer appears more likely.

Pochettino, who has earned a reputation for giving young players their chance, has loaned Carter-Vickers to Ipswich, having recalled him from Sheffield United, and sent Edwards to Norwich.

“We have built a very strong squad and the demands are higher [for the academy players],” said Pochettino. “If you were seven out of 10, you were going to have the possibility to play but now we have said to them they need to be an eight or an eight and a half.”

On Edwards Pochettino added: “It is a great opportunity for him at Norwich. He now has the possibility to be a man.”