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Tottenham must avoid this transfer disaster

By Rucker Haringey

STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur comes on as a second half substitue for Kyle Walker of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur comes on as a second half substitue for Kyle Walker of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Kieran Trippier can’t be a starter for Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino isn’t afraid to ship malcontents out of the Tottenham dressing room. However, if Spurs sell Kyle Walker without purchasing a proper replacement, it could cost them silverware next season.

Unfortunately, it does seem that Walker is going to complete his rumoured move to Manchester City this summer. Some Tottenham fans might think England’s first choice right back is surplus to requirements, but those fans are wrong.

Spurs cannot afford to enter the 2017-18 campaign with Kieran Trippier as their first choice right back. He’s capable of being a starter for a lesser Premier League club, but not a title contender. The unfortunate truth is that Trippier lacks the size and athleticism required to hold up against elite attackers.

The only option beyond Trippier in the current squad is starlet Kyle Walker-Peters. He has the talent to take over as Pochettino’s starter one day, but that day won’t occur next season. He is a couple of years away from being mature enough to start regularly for a Premier League title contender.

That leaves two potential solutions available to Pochettino and company. Firstly, the club could simply choose to keep Walker. He’s under contract with the club for several more years. The only reason they might feel compelled to sell him to City is because of the problems he might cause in the dressing room. The speedy right back’s head has been turned by the promises of riches away from North London.

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It’s conceivable that the club and Walker could come to an agreement on a new deal. That might not be Daniel Levy’s preferred course of action, but he doesn’t want to miss out on a chance to put his club at the top of the Premier League table either. Keeping Walker isn’t a perfect solution, but it would give Pochettino a player worth of being his starting right back next season.

I’ll confess that isn’t the most likely solution. If Walker and Pochettino have really fallen out, then there may not be a road back for the player. That means that Levy must enter the transfer market to find a new right back. That too, might be an expensive undertaking. Fortunately, Spurs would have the cash from Walker’s sale to help fund the move.

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The overarching point here is that Kieran Trippier isn’t good enough to be a member of Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI. He’s a quality backup, but Tottenham need to make sure he never assumes a larger role.

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