Ange Postecoglou outlines Tottenham’s ambition to become a ‘preferred destination for talented young players’ with club closing in on Lucas Bergvall deal… but warns ‘we’ve got a lot of work to do in our academy’

Ange Postecoglou believes the flair, adventure and opportunity on display in his Tottenham team is helping to attract exciting young players from around the world.

Spurs are closing in on the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Lucas Bergvall from Djurgarden in Sweden after convincing him to snub Barcelona. Last month, they persuaded Romanian defender Radu Dragusin, 21, to join them for £26.7million from Genoa despite strong interest from Bayern Munich.

But Postecoglou warned they must improve their academy production line to compete at the top.

‘We’ve got a lot of work to do in our academy,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘I don’t think we have the production line other top clubs have, certainly not. Even currently, that’s why we’re investing in some younger players, even for the first team. For us as a football club that’s definitely the way forward.

‘My brief at the moment is still very much around the first team, building a first team and you can do that while giving opportunities to young players.

Spurs are closing in on Djurgarden midfielder Lucas Bergvall, 18, after he snubbed Barcelona 

‘Sustainable success is the best way to go because the team grows together when it’s guys of similar ages as long as you’ve got good experience around them.

‘That’s what we’re doing at first team level. We’ve still got a lot of work to do at academy level.’

Postecoglou said academy director Simon Davies was leading the challenge.

‘We’ve got a great man there in Simon,’ added Postecoglou. ‘He has worked at some of best academies going and he knows what’s needed. We’ve got some good coaches in there. This year has been better but in terms of a production line of young players I think we’re still well behind other clubs.’

Even so, the capture of Bergvall from under the noses of Barcelona represents another recruitment coup for Tottenham.

‘I don’t think it’s so much what we’re saying, it’s more what people are seeing,’ said Postecoglou. ‘That’s the important thing. It’s like anything in life, you can try to sell a vision or something to someone but if there’s tangible physical evidence of it, anyone who has watched us since I’ve joined will have seen the aspirations we have to be the kind of team we want to be.

‘That’s not just me saying it, we’re actually doing it. OK, we’re not the finished product by any stretch but we’re giving young players an opportunity. Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and Micky van de Ven, all guys in their early 20s who have already played significant roles.

They managed to sign Radu Dragusin, 21, last month – despite interest from Bayern Munich 

Postecoglou admitted that Spurs are investing in younger players because their academy ‘we’ve got a lot of work to do in our academy’

‘So we’re building a team. From our perspective it’s pleasing and hopefully we become a club which is a preferred destination for talented young players.

‘There aren’t too many hidden gems around. Everyone knows who the talents are. Hopefully our point of difference. I’ve always felt your football if your biggest selling point beyond anything else. Hopefully we’re showing evidence of that which is helping us.’