As Kieran Trippier attracts widespread interest from Premier League clubs, Tottenham have been urged to stay away from their former star.
Kieran Trippier was part of the Mauricio Pochettino era at Tottenham during which they challenged for the Premier League title and reached the Champions League Final. However, his performances saw a massive dip not long after, which convinced the Lilywhites to part ways as he joined Atletico Madrid in 2019.
While he has had a successful time at the Wanda Metropolitano, winning the La Liga title last term, the Madrid side are prepared to cut their losses after a bad start to the current season. They are willing to sell him for £15 million, with Newcastle United very keen on his signature in January.
There is also long-standing interest from Manchester United and Tottenham, as both clubs eye an attack-minded and experienced player in the position. While Trippier fits the player’s profile needed at those clubs, his age makes him a risky investment, considering Atletico’s asking price, among other things.
Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips has warned Tottenham Hotspur against making a move for the England international, urging them to look elsewhere in their search for a right-back. In his comments on Football Insider, Phillips cast doubts over Trippier’s performance levels.
Phillips said: “I think he’ll look somewhere else. Will he come back and perform the way he did when he was there before? I don’t see it. They will probably look for a player with age on his side. Who that is, I don’t know.
“But they will be scouring the world for an attacking right-back that you can get four or five seasons out of. That would be better for them than going after Trippier.”
Trippier, 31, has a contract with Atletico Madrid until the summer of 2023. While his performances might have been positive for the La Liga champions, they are actively looking to cash in on the full-back. They might just be hoping one of the Premier League sides come in and pay their modest asking price for the former Spurs star.
The Lilywhites could be in the market for a new right-back, with reports claiming that Antonio Conte is ready to cash in on the struggling Matt Doherty. Whether they decide to re-sign the England ace or look elsewhere for reinforcements remains to be seen.