Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho will have some interesting decisions to make at the end of the season, and if recent reports are to be believed, then perhaps he is indeed looking ahead.

The right-back spot has been a real Achilles' heel for Spurs this season.

Matt Doherty is yet to truly impress having signed for £15m in the summer, though there are reservations into how he fits into this side when firstly, Sergio Reguilon plays - a similar attack-minded defender - and secondly, when they deploy a flat back-four having spent most of his career at right wing-back for Wolves.

Whilst Serge Aurier's constant mistakes have now landed him in hot water with the Spurs boss. He'll also be in the final year of his current deal come the summer window too, so there will be a temptation on Daniel Levy's part to cash in on him.

The north Londoners have also been mooted with a move for Norwich City right-back Max Aarons, who they currently value at £20m, according to the Sunday Mirror (24/1, page 71).

Given he's playing and starting every week, and delivering, his value could surge before the end of the current campaign.

Thus, it leaves Mourinho in a tricky spot for the long-term future of that role.

Perhaps there's a cheaper alternative staring him right in the face in emerging U23 starlet Dermi Lusala, who is becoming quite the player under the likes of Wayne Burnett and Matt Taylor.

The 18-year-old prospect has been capped at England U16 level and was once tipped as 'Mauricio Pochettino's future right-back' by football.london's Rob Guest.

'The academy ace is still very raw, but there is hope that he will take his game to another level in the future and become another success story for the club,' wrote the Spurs correspondent.

He has since displayed an intriguing versatile side to his game, playing on the left and in central defence whilst his overall record for the U18 squad reads five assists in 25 appearances, via Transfermarkt, which is a pretty respectable return.

Lusala was even named in the Guardian's 'Next Generation' list for 2019, where he has been described as a 'tenacious and technically polished right-back' and an update to the article in October 2020 claims he had been the best player for the U18s this term.

The teen prodigy, recognised for this athletic ability in school, could hold the keys to the club saving millions of pounds this summer. All he needs is for Mourinho to give him his opportunity in the first-team.

AND in other news, Jose Mourinho must now unleash £36m-rated "team player"...