EFL expert Ali Maxwell has backed Kion Etete to make his way into the Premier League if he continues developing the way he is at Cardiff.
Etete had impressed for Tottenham’s Under-18s and Under-21s and there were big hopes at the North London club about the youngster a couple of years ago.
However, the centre-forward struggled to hit the expected heights during his loan spells at Northampton Town and Cheltenham Town in League One, with Spurs deciding to let go of the youngster last summer.
The 21-year-old was picked up by Cardiff City in 2022 and while he did not get much of a look-in last season, the striker has now forced his way into the Blue Birds’ first-team set-up.
Etete has found the back of the net five times in 11 appearances across all competitions so far this season and has impressed with his hold-up play.
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Will Spurs regret letting Kion Etete go?
Maxwell believes that several Premier League clubs will be closely following the former Spurs man’s development, given his physical presence upfront as well as his ability to stretch opposition defences.
The journalist said on the Not the Top 20 podcast: “Big Kion Etete scoring a really nice goal and playing really well in the number nine role. It feels like everyone (at Cardiff) is stepping up, and that’s really exciting.
“Etete is showing why you spend money on him, even at a very young age. Even if, as has been the case, it has taken him a while to start and lead the line for a Championship club, which is a difficult thing to do.
“He’s still only 21 but he is the profile of striker that all Premier League clubs want. You look at strikers like Ollie Watkins, like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, it’s not just about their goalscoring. It’s about their profile.
“In particular, are they tall enough and strong enough to disrupt defenders? Are they quick enough to spin in behind and stretch defences, and be really dangerous on the counter-attack?
“I think Etete is developing the confidence and the all-round game to make the most of the potential he clearly has.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Tottenham have some exceptional young strikers coming through at the minute, including Dane Scarlett, Will Lankshear, Jamie Donley, and Jude Soonsup-Bell. So, the club’s decision to release Etete last summer is understandable despite the promise he showed at the youth level.
