Liverpool and Tottenham Track Stevenage Starlet

Scouting a player doesn’t make him a serious target. Still, for those keeping track of who Liverpool might be keeping track of, there’s a new name on the list: Stevenage FC 18-year-old centre half Ben Wilmot. This after Liverpool—and Tottenham—scouts were spotted in attendance at that club’s recent cup tie against Brighton.

All told, thirty clubs were said to have shown up to watch Wilmot play. It’s just that Liverpool and Spurs are taking a close look. Thinking he might be set to line up for either in the coming seasons, then, is probably a stretch. Still, it speaks to a highly regarded youngster who is likely to end up making a noteworthy move.

Maybe next summer, or maybe one or two after that, but if Wilmot keeps impressing as he has for Stevenage at the youth level, he’ll almost certainly be making his way up the football pyramid independent of his current club—currently sitting mid-table in League Two. Or at least that seems to be the consensus on the youngster.

Before that happens, though, he’ll need to do more than just appearing for Stevenage’s youth side and in the Checktrade Trophy—the current name for the EFL’s lower league cup competition previously known as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Wilmot has two appearances in that competition but none so far in the league.

“He is an absolutely terrific player and great prospect,” noted manager Darren Sarll following the centre half’s senior debut, which took place in the Checktrade Trophy back on the fourth of October. “The best thing about him like all top players is his humility and his willingness to work, listen, and carry on getting better.”

A name to keep track of, then, perhaps. For both Liverpool and Tottenham and the 30 or so other clubs that apparently sent out scouts to watch Wilmot earn his second senior Stevenage appearance. Even if it doesn’t, in the end, lead to him transferring to either club.