Highlights
Tottenham Hotspur rekindle interest in Birmingham City's Rico Browne after contract rejection.
Browne previously had a trial at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and impressed in a North London Derby youth game.
Birmingham City's academy has produced talents like Jude Bellingham, but Browne's future remains uncertain.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly rekindling their interest in Birmingham City youngster Rico Browne after he snubbed a contract offer from Blues.
That's according to a report from Football Insider, with the North London outfit said to be long-term admirers of the 20-year-old defender after the reported rejection of fresh terms at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.
Birmingham are preparing for their first season in League One since 1995 under the management of Ange Postecoglou's former Spurs assistant, the newly-appointed Chris Davies.
A summer of turnover in this part of the West Midlands was always to be expected, given the ambitions of American ownership group Knighthead, fronted by businessman Tom Wagner and former NFL icon, Tom Brady.
However, it would seem that one of Blues' Wast Hills academy graduates no longer sees himself as part of the club's plans to restore momentum amid well-documented ambitions despite relegation from the Championship.
Tottenham Hotspur plot fresh move for Birmingham City youngster
As per this latest update via Football Insider, the defender has snubbed the idea of a new contract with the third tier outfit, which has led to Spurs re-registering their interest in a previous target.
The same publication had revealed back in 2021 that Browne was given a trial period at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium towards the back-end of Jose Mourinho's tenure with the club, and after making an impression in a North London Derby youth game against Arsenal, but failed in their pursuit despite tabling an offer amid further interest from West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion.
However, the St Kitts and Nevis youth international would then go on to sign his first professional deal with Birmingham in the summer of 2022 after the aforementioned barrage of speculation.
Furthermore, the Lilywhites' interest continued to show last year, as they faced competition from Manchester United, having impressed whilst captaining the youth sides of the Second City club.
At the end of this season, Blues announced via their retained list that Browne and Brad Mayo were offered professional terms this off-season, with Mayo eventually putting pen-to-paper on a fresh two-year contract.
However, the uncertainty surrounding Browne's future remains, which has led to yet another swoop from Tottenham and Brighton.
Rico Browne's 2023/24 campaign
Despite being so highly-rated through his performances in youth football, Browne is still yet to make a senior appearance for Birmingham.
Blues' academy system has come to prominence in recent years, with many youngsters in B9 hoping to emulate the well-documented and rapid rise of former graduate, current England and Real Madrid sensation, Jude Bellingham.
Browne made 14 appearances in the U21's side under Steve Spooner in the first half of last season, before being sent out on loan to local side, Rushall Olympic of the National League North.
After making the temporary switch to Dales Lane last December, the defender made 18 appearances for the Pics, aiding their eventual survival in their first-ever campaign at sixth-tier level.
He scored once for the Pics, which came in a shock 1-0 away victory at Chester, as well as registering assists against Curzon Ashton and Boston United.
Birmingham City shouldn't be overly concerned by Rico Browne snub
Whilst it's clear that Browne has the potential to become a solid player, supporters perhaps shouldn't be overly concerned by these fresh developments.
It would be nice for them to see yet another rising star reach the first-team pathway under Davies' management, but the ambition the club have already shown in the transfer market means the attention of Blues fans has turned elsewhere.