Is Tottenham Hotspur the Right Club for West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino?

West Bromwich Albion chairman Jeremy Peace may be forgiven for thinking he has already made himself clear about Saido Berahino.

As of Monday morning, the Mirror's John Cross and the Telegraph's John Percy were among those still linking the Baggies striker with a move to Tottenham Hotspur before the transfer window shuts Tuesday, despite Peace's seemingly unequivocal rejection of the possibility. Citing the player's part in manager Tony Pulis' plans, Peace said, "had we ever entertained the notion of selling him we have not received an offer anywhere near attractive enough from Tottenham Hotspur."

Letting Berahino leave would not be the first time a club has changed its mind about a player. Or it may turn out they were willing to sell anyway and that Peace and Pulis were understandably milking Tottenham for all they could get. If the 22-year-old does head to North London—in this transfer window or even at a later date—are Spurs really the right club for him?

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Prior to the start of the season, there was certainly ample reason why head coach Mauricio Pochettino may have thought so.

Berahino's encouraging development as a confident top-flight performer capable of leading the line naturally stood out. For Spurs, they also will have his familiarity from the England under-21s with their striker Harry Kane. That's not to mention the versatility that could see him play either in partnership with or in support of last season's leading homegrown Premier League scorer.

Those qualities have not changed with the campaign's commencement, but the environment Berahino would be entering at Spurs has altered.

Asked in his post-match conference following Saturday's 0-0 draw with Everton about the possibility of more new signings, Pochettino stated, "We have some targets, maybe happen, maybe not." Questioned specifically about more help for Kane in attack, the Argentinian pointedly referenced the recent captures of Clinton Njie and Son Heung-Min.

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In the moment, it was probably a precautionary defensive comment in the event Spurs are not able to recruit another forward, Berahino or otherwise. Yet it did speak to the options they do now have in a crowded area of the pitch any new arrival would be entering.

In their four matches so far, Spurs have already used nine players in attacking-midfield positions or up front (Andros Townsend will also soon be available). This has been in part a product of a 4-2-3-1 formation Berahino's introduction may see Pochettino adapt or dispense with with him in mind. Still, it is easy to understand why some may still be wary about his playing opportunities at Spurs.

Pulis brought up the not entirely pleasant process in which Berahino is mired right now, questioning what he believes to be the little regard for the player's own well-being. Offering an outside perspective, England under-21 boss Gareth Southgate is not convinced leaving West Brom will automatically improve Berahino.

"The key is initially is that they need to play," Southgate told Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Sky Sports), also referring to Everton defender and reported Chelsea target John Stones. He went on:

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So both of those players are currently at clubs where they are playing regularly, which is a great position to be in. ...

The younger players, they need to play regularly and that should be high on their consideration. I have seen what happens when players are not playing regularly and there's a moment their development dwindles and they don't progress. 

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The skepticism about Stones' chances at Chelsea is warranted. In the Roman Abramovich era, Glen Johnson, Victor Moses, Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell and Shaun Wright-Phillips have led the bright young England-based talents to struggle with the Blues.

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None should have been under any illusions about the stiffness of the competition for places. Given the comparative success of others such as Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and, in different circumstances, the homegrown John Terry, it could be argued they might have done more if they were good enough. Nonetheless, in all of those cases, burgeoning careers were stunted.

There is no guarantee young English talent will thrive at Tottenham, either. However, their status as a club looking up at rather than down from pinnacles of success has made them more open to providing opportunities for their young countrymen.

The likes of Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker over the past decade are examples of this, as well as academy products such as Kane and Townsend under Tim Sherwood and Pochettino.

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Berahino's talent is suitable for Spurs' current style, and if they have gone to the trouble of spending heavily on him, they are going to back him as best as they can. Playing time is something he should not have to worry about as long as he carries on where he left off from West Brom.

Of the clubs in and around the top six last season, there is no more conducive situation to him individually than at White Hart Lane—see: Danny Ings frequenting the bench at Liverpool right now or the even larger number of strikers proper he would have to compete with at Arsenal or Southampton.

Ultimately, if a deal is agreed upon, it is a case of Berahino deciding how confident he is about making the step up to a club competing in Europe and with reasonable aspirations to achieve even more. His recent transfer request, reported by the club's official site, suggests he is ready for the challenge.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.