LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Tim Fosu-Mensah of Manchester United is challenged by Leighton Baines of Everton during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Everton and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on April 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Morton - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Tottenham should make a strong move for Manchester United starlet Timothy Fosu-Mensah

Tottenham need to move quickly to take advantage of a potential transfer mistake by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. If the Red Devils are willing to part with starlet Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Spurs would be wise to scoop him up ahead of their rivals.

Many Premier League fans were caught off guard at the news that Mourinho is set to wield the axe on as many as nine United stars before the conclusion of the summer transfer window. To me, the decision to part ways with Fosu-Mensah was by far the most surprising aspect of the story.

After all, the 18-year-old Belgian showed real sparks of talent last year under Louis van Gaal. He clearly has significant physical and athletic tools, he just needs further refinement on his technique and understanding of the game. He managed to post a Whoscored.com player rating of 6.70 in his limited Premier League appearances for United last year. That’s not a bad rating considering his age, inexperience, and the general malaise that existed at Old Trafford under van Gaal.

Adding to Fosu-Mensah’s value is the fact that he can play either centre or fullback depending on a club’s needs. That sort of positional flexibility is quite rare, and is a central reason why I think Spurs would be smart to make a bold move to sign the young Belgian.

Tottenham don’t have a pressing need for reinforcements in the back four, but that doesn’t mean they should pass on a player with star potential. Fosu-Mensah has just that sort of potential. If Spurs can get him into Mauricio Pochettino’s training regimen and tutelage this summer, there’s no telling how good he can become. He could easily progress to become a high-level Premier League starter with the right coaching.

In the short-term, Fosu-Mensah could solve Tottenham’s issues providing cover for Toby Alderweireld. Right now, the best in-house option that Spurs have at that spot is fellow 18-year-old Cameron Carter-Vickers. I’m optimistic that the American youth player can grow into a quality starter over time, but he lacks any real measure of match experience at this time.

Fosu-Mensah, on the other hand, has at least tasted real Premier League combat. He may have only played eight matches last season for United, but that sort of experience puts him miles ahead of Carter-Vickers in terms of his preparation for this season. Purchasing Fosu-Mensah would allow Tottenham to take a much more methodical approach with Carter-Vickers’ career development.

Tottenham don’t necessarily need to purchase Timothy Fosu-Mensah, but achieving greatness isn’t about only making purchases you have to make. Sometimes you make a purchase because you have a chance to purchase a world-class talent when their value is at its lowest. That’s just the opportunity Spurs have to purchase the United defender this summer.