Does Davinson Sanchez have a future at Tottenham Hotspur?

Davinson Sanchez has the talent to be a solid starter for Tottenham, but will Jose Mourinho give him the opportunity to learn on the job for Spurs?

Jose Mourinho is clearly interested in revamping Tottenham’s back line this summer. That puts the status of Davinson Sanchez in clear jeopardy. The Colombian centre back has the talent to be a star for Spurs, but he might be running out of time to impress his new manager.

The one certainty ahead of next season for Tottenham’s central defence is that Toby Alderweireld will man one of the positions. The Belgian international may be getting up there in terms of years, but he’s clearly a favourite of Mourinho’s. The fact that he recently signed a new contract with Spurs only makes it more obvious he will be in the starting XI for years to come.

The battle to become Alderweireld’s partner in central defence will be fierce. It’s always possible that Mourinho will pay for a high-priced centre back to solidify things in the summer. That idea might prove to be too costly for Daniel Levy though. Instead, it’s wise to take a look at the current candidates in Mourinho’s squad.

Sanchez will certainly fancy himself as the strongest player in that group. He looks brilliant at times for Spurs with his borderline elite athleticism and willingness to use his body to defend. On the flip side, he doesn’t seem to use his strength very well against physical strikers. His pace allows him to recover when a forward spins off him, but he’s made some shockingly poor challenges on bigger players who wriggle away from him. That inconsistency is a huge issue for Mourinho and his coaching staff.

It’s important to remember that Sanchez is just 23-years-old. Expecting him to be a polished defender at his age is foolish. It’s very possible he won’t enter his prime for another four or five years. That could make it the prudent choice for Tottenham to stick with him even if they’re forced to endure some growing pains.

He certainly has a major edge over Juan Foyth and Jan Vertonghen in the battle for a starting spot. Foyth will almost certainly be sold this summer if Spurs receive a reasonable offer. Vertonghen may be departing via a free transfer. His contract expires at the end of the current campaign and there have been no meaningful talks between his representatives and club officials lately.

The player Sanchez needs to worry about is Japhet Tanganga. The young Englishman has burst onto the scene under Mourinho. He’s played effectively at centre back and fullback during his brief time with the first team. His best position is clearly in the middle though. He doesn’t have the flashy athleticism that makes Sanchez such a tantalizing prospect, but he’s rock solid both in terms of his physique and decision-making. That’s clearly endeared him to Mourinho.

The smart move for Spurs will be to let the battle play out for at least another season. At worst, having three quality central defenders is a sign of quality depth at Tottenham. Giving up on either Sanchez or Tanganga at this point in their young careers would be poor business. That means Sanchez should stick with Tottenham for at least one more season.