Tottenham Hotspur: Is Kyle Walker the next Luka Modric?

Tottenham Hotspur right back Kyle Walker may fancy a move away from Spurs, but the club may choose to handle him with the Luka Modric treatment.

It’s hardly a well-kept secret the future of Tottenham Hotspur right back Kyle Walker is, at the very least, uncertain. Whether or not manager Mauricio Pochettino has Walker in his future plans is anybody’s guess at the moment, but eyes belonging to analysts and fans around the world were raised when Pochettino left Walker on the bench for the FA Cup semifinal versus Chelsea last month and for the April 30 showdown with Arsenal.

One wouldn’t have to search far and wide to find rumors linking Walker with potential moves to some of the biggest clubs in the world. Per ESPN’s Dan Kilpatrick, Pochettino coyly neglected to touch upon Walker’s status when speaking with reporters earlier this month, an interesting response considering he could have poured cold water on any rumors, for the time being, by insisting Walker was happy at White Hart Lane.

If the relationship between Pochettino and Walker is fractured beyond repair, which may be the case if the manager insists the right back cannot play two matches in a single week, Tottenham should and likely will attach a hefty price tag to the player. The England international turns 27 years old later this month, meaning he theoretically should be in his prime for at least a few more seasons.

Remember, also, that Walker put pen to paper on a new contract with Spurs this past September. According to ESPN Staff, that deal runs through 2021, meaning Walker’s fate is very much so in the hands of club chairman Daniel Levy; unless, of course, Pochettino convinces Levy it’s time for Walker and Spurs to part ways.

The situation is reminiscent to what occurred between Spurs and midfielder Luka Modric starting in the spring of 2011. By that time, Modric had established himself as the maestro of the Spurs midfield, something that wasn’t lost on clubs with deep pockets. Chelsea, most notably, reportedly placed Modric high on their wish list that summer, and Modric seemed ready to pack his bags for a move across London.

In July 2011, a defiant Levy informed Sky Sports News (h/t Fox Sports) Modric was staying at the Lane for at least another season:

"“It’s the end of it. As I said a few weeks ago there’s no further discussion on it. He was on holiday, we’ve now had the conversation and he understands our position.“I’m sure once he’s back with his team-mates everything will be fine.”"

Modric clearly had other plans. He essentially went on strike and missed Tottenham’s 2011-12 season opener, a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Manchester United, in a final attempt to force a move to Stamford Bridge. Levy put the matter to put for good on deadline day, however, when he rejected a £40 million offer from Chelsea at the final hour according to the Independent.

Both Tottenham and Modric won out in the end. Spurs kept Modric through the end of the campaign, the talented playmaker was able to secure a move to Real Madrid, where he has twice (thus far) won the Champions League, among other honors, and Tottenham were able to prevent him from joining a local and Premier League rival.

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Would Walker choose to make life hard for Levy and Spurs as Modric did earlier this decade? Doing so could benefit the player more so than the club this time around. Unlike when Modric was playing under Harry Redknapp, a manager who insisted upon keeping his chosen talents whenever and however possible, Pochettino is a more ruthless boss.

In short, Pochettino will not tolerate anybody not being all-in on the cause on the training ground or during matches. The perception exists he may insist Levy sells Walker this summer to ensure the club gets the most for his services before he chooses to routinely pick others, most notably Kieran Trippier, over Walker next season.

The biggest hurdle facing Walker potentially making a desired move likely involves clubs he’d want to join. Levy has no recent history of selling Tottenham stars to English clubs competing for Champions League spots and titles, and there’s no reason to believe that’s changing just because he could fetch a massive sum for Walker. Even a bid of £50 million may not be enough to convince Levy to allow Walker to join either United or Manchester City.

Related Story: What's the right price for Kyle Walker?

Walker is signed for the foreseeable future, and he would have an opportunity to earn a spot in Tottenham teams for Champions League fixtures next season. His only real negotiating tactic, assuming he wants to leave Spurs, may be to annoy Pochettino. Even doing so may not be enough for Walker to exit the Lane in 2017 unless his agent can convince the likes of Barcelona, Paris-Saint Germain, Bayern Munich or other giants outside of England to give Levy a call.