Tottenham must aim higher in search for starting right back
Max Aarons may be good enough to help Tottenham next season, but Spurs also need to buy a more established right back this summer.
Right back continues to be a vexing position for Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham. It’s surely a place where Spurs will spend money this summer, but getting the balance between talent and experience is going to be a massive challenge for the North London club.
The Express is reporting that Tottenham are very interested in purchasing Norwich fullback Max Aarons to compete for a spot in their starting XI next season. The Canaries are headed to the Premier League, but it’s unlikely they can withstand a serious bid from Spurs. Aarons certainly has the talent to develop into a quality player.
That doesn’t mean he’s ready to start for a club with serious Champions League aspirations next year. Aarons has been a good Championship player this season, but it’s not as if he’s lit the competition ablaze. His Whoscored.com player rating average of 6.89 in 40 league appearances for Norwich shows that he still has serious work to do before he’s anything close to a world-class right back.
That’s exactly the level of player Pochettino needs to advance his project with Spurs. The prevailing wisdom around Hotspur Way is that both Serge Aurier and Kieran Trippier may be headed elsewhere this summer. Kyle Walker-Peters does look to be a solid bet to stay despite his limited role this season.
Leaving Walker-Peters and Aarons to duel for the starting position, or outright share it, would be a massive risk for Tottenham. Neither has proven they have the capability of being even an average Premier League starter at this point in their young careers. Entrusting the right back position to such an unproven pair might be acceptable for a mid-table club, but it’s not acceptable for a club with Tottenham’s overall talent level.
The solution for Spurs is obvious. They need to adjust their sights in the transfer market. Buying Aarons is fine, but his purchase must be accompanied with the acquisition of a more proven commodity. Someone like Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka would be ideal. Otherwise, Tottenham may have to look elsewhere in Europe for a proper fullback.
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Pochettino won’t be given unlimited funds to spend this summer, but leaving his side short of experienced cover at right back isn’t the place to save money. This year’s problem area must be adequately addressed when the summer transfer window opens.