Tottenham plotting move for surprising Kyle Walker replacement

By Rucker Haringey | May 17, 2017

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Mauricio Pochettino (C), Manager of Tottenham Hotspur applauds as a mark of respect for Ugo Ehiogu during The Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on April 22, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

Tottenham may have a surprise up their sleeve

It’s quite possible that everyone has been looking at the impending loss of Kyle Walker the wrong way. Many Spurs fans, myself included, have worried about the club’s lack of interest in signing a new right back to replace him. Perhaps the solution to Tottenham’s problem has been in front of us all along.

The club’s interest in signing Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has been an open secret for months. In fairness, Mauricio Pochettino’s desire to bring in the fleet-footed Eagle predates the possibility of losing Walker to Manchester City. Still, it’s possible that the two items are more related than we previously thought.

Consider the possibility that Pochettino wants to move the club to a back three on a more permanent basis next season. It’s a formation we saw quite a lot of this year. Such a move would change the sort of player the manager might want to serve in the wing back position.

Deploying three centre backs in the starting XI certainly diminishes the defensive requirements placed on the two wing backs. It doesn’t fee them from defensive responsibility entirely, but it does lessen it significantly. As such, Pochettino may be looking for a star to replace Walker that is much more accomplished on the offensive end of the pitch.

More from Tottenham Hotspur

Zaha could be perfect in that role. He’s clearly playing as an attacking midfielder for Palace at the moment, but part of his attractiveness to Pochettino is his defensive work rate. Is it really impossible to think that he could slot into the Spurs starting XI as a right wing back?

I don’t think it’s far-fetched at all. Walker’s biggest faults are his lack of touch in the final third and his proclivity to switch off mentally. The majority of his good defending comes as a result of his world-class speed and above-average strength.

Zaha might not be quite as quick or strong, but he could be coached up to a superior mental level than Walker. That advantage could easily allow him to transform into an adequate wing defender in short order.

On the offensive side of the pitch, he’d serve as an immediate upgrade over Walker. Just imagine Zaha overlapping with the likes of Dele Alli or Christian Eriksen in the Tottenham attack. He’d be a complete nightmare for opposing defenders. Anything that Spurs would be forced to give up on the defensive end, would be overshadowed by Zaha’s addition to the club’s attack.

I must confess this is an out of the box theory. However, isn’t that exactly what the club should be doing to overcome Chelsea to win next year’s Premier League title? We know Spurs can’t outspend the Blues, but they can potentially outsmart them.

Next: Tottenham are losing interest in Ross Barkley

I hope Kyle Walker stays this summer, but if he doesn’t, Tottenham must secure a talented replacement. Don’t discount the chances of Wilfried Zaha filling that position for Pochettino.

Home/Tottenham Hotspur