Tottenham Hotspur beat Arsenal in race to sign Scottish starlet tipped to go to very top

Arsenal may be on course to win a first Premier League title since 2004 – but they have been beaten by Tottenham in the race to sign James Wilson.

Spurs have announced the arrival of the highly-rated 18-year-old from Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts on loan with an option to buy.

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The teenager, who has already been capped by Steve Clarke for Scotland, has scored eight goals in 21 starts for Hearts.

However, he has played just 77 minutes for Derek McInnes’ men this term, who are six points clear of Celtic at the top of the SPFL.

Wilson has been seeking regular game time having found his pathway blocked by being behind Lawrence Shankland, Pierre Landry Kabore and Claudio Braga in the club’s pecking order.

Wil power

And he has now linked up with Spurs despite interest from Arsenal, who were only prepared to offer a trial to the forward.

Speaking prior to Wilson’s move being announced, ESPN reporter and Hearts fan Mark Donaldson waxed lyrical over his talent.

Appearing on the Hawksbee and Jacobs show earlier on Monday to discuss why there is interest in Wilson, Donaldson said: “It actually goes back to Brexit.

“Because previously English Premier League clubs could just go and sign players under the age of 18 from European clubs, but now that’s a lot harder, if not impossible for some, without big transfer fees.

“So they’ve turned their attention north of the border, and a lot more English clubs have got scouts in Scotland.

“And this is a player who came to prominence last year, Scotland’s youngest ever player against Greece. But with Hearts doing well this season, he’s struggled for game time.

“Arsenal have been linked, but so have Spurs. So it might be a north London battle for the young man.”

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Hearts manager McInnes had publicly confirmed talks have taken place between the club’s sporting director Graham Jones and Arsenal for Wilson, who was limited to just seven league minutes since August.

Donaldson continued: “I don’t think he’ll get many chances between now and the end of the season, but I want Hearts to get maximum value for him.

With Wilson’s move a loan with an option to buy, Donaldson says that’s an arrangement which favours Spurs.

Donaldson added: “For Hearts, what do they get out of it with no guarantee of getting money at the end of the season?

“So I’d like to see him get more of a chance, but it’s like the old West Ham player, Tommy McQueen, who was a former colleague of mine, who said when he was up at Aberdeen, he was doing really well for the reserves.

“And he went to see Alex Ferguson, knocked on the door and said, ‘Gaffer, I think I deserve a chance, I’ve been doing really well.’

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“Ferguson said, ‘I agree with you, you are,’ and then he pointed to the league table, Aberdeen were top, he said, ‘But so am I, now get out.’ 

“It’s a true story, it’s difficult for James to get into the side. You’re not going to change it just to satisfy a young player to try and keep him at the football club.

“Manchester United were linked with him when he was 15 years old. He signed a new contract recently.

“So I’d love to see him stay, but I’d also love to see him get the best opportunity for himself, and right now, I don’t think that’s at Hearts.

“So why not try something different?”

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‘Could hopefully go to the very top’

Wilson, who broke through into Hearts’ first team during the 2023-24 season, only signed a new contract until the summer of 2027 last April.

On what Spurs fans can expect from him, Donaldson told talkSPORT: “He’s fast, he’s good, he’s very mobile, he can play coming in off the right-hand side.

“He can play right through, he’s got an eye for goal, got an equaliser against Hibernian in October 2024.

“He’s tall, rangy, look he’s a prospect and you’re buying potential for an 18-year-old.

“Some 18-year-olds you get them from Brazil, they’re ready-made, they’ve been playing first team football for a couple of years.

“James is a project who I think could hopefully go to the very top, and I don’t see why he shouldn’t go down south.”