The West Brom striker has drawn attention from a number of top clubs in recent months but his old manager feels that he has not developed enough to be key in a top-four battle
Highly rated West Brom forward Saido Berahino is not ready for first-team football with Tottenham, according to his former manager, Alan Irvine.
Rumours of an exit from the Hawthorns have followed Berahino for months, with links to Spurs, Manchester City and Liverpool at different times despite the Baggies' regular insistence that he will not be sold.
Tottenham are now considered favourites for the 21-year-old's signature but Irvine, who was sacked by West Brom in December, feels that he needs more time to develop before getting involved in Champions League races.
"Is he ready to play a huge part at a club like Tottenham who want to be challenging for the top four? Probably not yet," Irvine told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I always said to Saido that, as long as he kept focus and did the right thing, then he would continue to develop."
Berahino scored 14 goals in 38 Premier League appearances for West Brom last season as they finished 13th.
In February, the England Under-21s international earned the ire of some West Brom supporters when he claimed they would not begrudge him "going on to bigger things". That prompted Tony Pulis, who replaced Irvine, to put the striker "on the naughty step", although the Welshman has since said Berahino can become "a top-class player".
At the end of last term, Pulis indicated that he would not stand in Berahino's way if a top-four club made an offer but Irvine says that his former charge would be better staying at West Brom for at least one more season.
"It's important that he plays," the 57-year-old continued. "He's at the stage of his career where he needs to play regular games. He's got a talent. His movement is very good."
