Tottenham may be set to move Ben Davies after next season

Ben Davies lacks the athleticism to thrive at left back under Mauricio Pochettino, so Tottenham may see his future elsewhere in their starting XI.

Tottenham fans don’t always appreciate Ben Davies. He certainly isn’t the flashiest player in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, but he might be one of the steadiest. That’s why Spurs want to keep him at the club for years to come.

Per The Telegraph, Tottenham officials and the Welshman are currently in talks about a new five-year contract. Some Spurs fans might view that as disappointing news. Davies is a very smart football player, but he lacks the pace to really excel as a fullback in Pochettino’s aggressive system.

It’s possible that Spurs officials simply disagree with that sentiment. Pochettino hasn’t been afraid to deploy Davies as his starting left back against elite attacks in the past. He could view Davies as worthy of regular playing time at fullback for years to come.

There is, however, a more interesting, and possibly progressive explanation for offering Davies a new deal. It could be that Tottenham don’t see his future at left back. Instead, they could be plotting a subtle positional switch for the 26-year-old defender.

At the moment, Spurs do not have an obvious heir apparent for Jan Vertonghen at centre back. Pochettino has a clear preference to play left-footed defenders on the left side of his formation. That doesn’t just apply to his left back. It also requires Tottenham to have a left-footed centre back in their starting XI. Vertonghen is the only man who occupies that spot regularly at the moment.

The venerable Belgian’s contract will expire after next season. There’s been talk about inking him to a new deal, but nothing is imminent on that front. That’s why Spurs have been loosely linked with a move for a left-footed centre back this summer. Nathan Ake has been the most prominent name on that front.

It’s easy to imagine a scenario where Tottenham abandon their search for a Vertonghen heir and designate Davies as that player. He already plays as a centre back for Wales in their three-man back line. He might lack the size required to be an ideal central defender in the Premier League, but he certainly has the class on the ball to excel at building attacks from the back. That’s a crucial skill in Pochettino’s system.

If Davies does lose a step due to age during his next contract with Spurs, he’s going to need to move from left back to centre back. That’s precisely why Tottenham are comfortable offering him a new five-year contract that will take him into his 30s. Pochettino and company realize that Davies’ future lies away from the left back position.