Troy Parrott is a ‘serious player in the making’ and could be as good as Tottenham star Harry Kane.
That is the view of Charlton Athletic who are plotting another bid to snare the Ireland sensation on loan.
The Championship club were in talks with Tottenham in January but a switch failed to materialise because of a UEFA red-tape issue.
They are back in the mix for the Dubliner, 18, but admit they will have a big fight on their hands.
Parrott will be in demand and Mirror Sport revealed in February how Dundalk also launched an ambitious loan move for the teenage star.
He has since made a second Premier League appearance although Jose Mourinho does not believe he is ready for the Spurs first-team.
But Charlton assistant Johnnie Jackson - a former Tottenham player - has made no secret of his club’s desire to try and land Parrott at the second time of asking.
“We were really interested in taking him because we liked him a lot,” Jackson told the ‘Last Word on Spurs’ podcast.
“We watched him closely, we watched a lot of his clips and we had him watched in games.
“We were well aware of what he could do and we liked him but they weren’t willing to let him go.
“I think that was probably because of the age, but if you look at him, he doesn’t look like an 18-year-old.”
Jackson believes that Parrott, a rising star of the Ireland Under-21 team and capped once for the seniors, has all the attributes to excel in the game.
And he looks well placed to flourish on the international stage under new senior boss Stephen Kenny who blooded him for the 21s.
Jackson continued: “He reminds me of Harry Kane to be honest, and the way that he moves. If he carries on improving, I think he’s going to be a serious player.
“And when we get back playing or if it’s next season - whenever that may be - there will be a lot of interest in him.
“That will depend on what Spurs do in the market striker wise and what they’ll be willing to do with him.
“But I think he needs to get out and play some league football - that would be a great start for him.
“He will probably walk into a lot of Championship clubs on loan next year because there will be a lot of interest for him.”
And Jackson confirmed that Charlton will be in the queue.
“We’ll be looking at him closely and if it’s something we can do at the time then I’m sure we’ll try and do it, but I’m sure there will be fierce competition.”
