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In recent years, Tottenham Hotspur have been proactive in their pursuit of top young talent, both within the UK and across the European continent. The club has moved to secure the services of promising prospects such as Archie Gray from Leeds United, Lucas Bergvall from Djurgardens IF, Destiny Udogie from Udinese, Pape Matar Sarr from Metz, Luka Vuskovic from Hadjuk Split, and Wilson Odobert from Burnley, among others.
Tottenham’s ambitions have also seen them linked with a number of other highly-rated youngsters, including Patrick Dorgu from Lecce, Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, and even the highly-coveted Arda Guler from Real Madrid.
The latest name to emerge as a potential target for the North London club is Andrija Maksimovic, a 17-year-old midfielder from Red Star Belgrade. Maksimovic has already made his senior debut for the Serbian national team, becoming the youngest player to ever represent the country at just 17 years, 4 months, and 7 days old. This came just months after he featured for Serbia’s U17 side at the U17 European Championships, where England were represented by Mikey Moore.
According to reports, Tottenham are not the only club keeping a close eye on Maksimovic’s development. A host of other high-profile teams, including Newcastle United, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Marseille, and Juventus, are all said to be monitoring the talented teenager.
While a move for Maksimovic could potentially be agreed upon soon, it is understood that he would not be allowed to leave Serbia until the summer, when he turns 18 – a similar arrangement to the one that saw Luka Vuskovic join Tottenham. This is likely a result of the player’s young age and the club’s desire to ensure a smooth transition.
Maksimovic is primarily a number 10, but has also demonstrated his versatility by operating as an 8 and even playing on the right side of the midfield. Renowned scout Jacek Kulig has drawn comparisons between the Serbian and James Rodriguez, praising Maksimovic’s creative ability and natural talent for finding space between the lines.
Despite his youth, Maksimovic has already made a significant impact at the senior level, making his debut for Red Star Belgrade at just 16 years old and contributing a goal and an assist in the process. In the current season, he has already provided two assists in just 215 minutes of Serbian Superliga action, while also featuring for 144 minutes in the UEFA Champions League, including a start against Italian giants Inter Milan in September.
Red Star Belgrade’s reputation as a prolific developer of young talent adds further intrigue to Maksimovic’s potential, with the most recent example being Nikola Milenkovic, who has been excelling for a Nottingham Forest side currently sitting above Tottenham in the Premier League table.
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