Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on former defender Kyle Walker-Peters as they look for reinforcements in the right-back position.
According to Ben Jacobs (h/t Give Me Sport), Tottenham Hotspur are exploring the possibility of re-signing Kyle Walker-Peters. It appears the Premier League giants are keen on reinforcing their options in the right-back position, with the Southampton starlet emerging as the ideal choice.
A product of Spurs’ youth academy, Walker-Peters had played professionally for the club for three years before joining Southampton in 2020. He has never had to look back since, having racked up 82 competitive appearances for the Saints, establishing himself as a key first-team player under Ralph Hasenhuttl in the process.
Walker-Peters’ pace out wide, coupled with his defensive diligence and overall athleticism have made him an ideal fit for Hasenhuttl’s tactical setup. But it has also attracted interest from clubs across England, with Arsenal also on the tail of the Englishman.
The Gunners have remodelled their defence remarkably well over the past 12 months and it is only expected to improve as the club eye a summer swoop for Josko Gvardiol. However, there appears to be a glaring issue in the right-back department, where Takehiro Tomiyasu has emerged as the only reliable option.
Cedric Soares has served as an alternative under Mikel Arteta, but there are questions being raised over the overall quality of the Portuguese international, whereas Hector Bellerin is set to be offloaded permanently, with the club looking for a fee of around £10 million. It has accentuated the need for a new right-back, with Walker-Peters fitting the bill perfectly.
However, the Gunners are set to face stiff competition from arch-rivals Tottenham in the pursuit of the Southampton defender. As the player’s former club, the Lilywhites certainly have an advantage in the pursuit as they look to rope in a new right-back that can replace Emerson Royal next season.
The Brazilian has been linked with a move away from Spurs, with AS Roma among the clubs interested in his services. It should pave the way for Antonio Conte to bring in Kyle Walker-Peters, who could compete with Matt Doherty for the right-back position next season.
Tottenham have been linked with a move for Djed Spence as well, the interest in Walker-Peters might not be all too serious at the moment. So, Arsenal might appear a more realistic destination for the Englishman this summer.
