Tottenham Hotspur fullback Kieran Trippier has been linked with a move away from the Lilywhites with Naples being the most likely destination for the Englishman.
According to the Evening Standard, Napoli are hopeful of landing the right-back for £22m after the Champions League final on June 1st. The Serie A club are the only contenders for the 28-year-old who are offering a better contract which will significantly increase his current £50,000 per week wages.
The World Cup hero scored a magnificent free-kick against Croatia in the semi-finals in Russia but has largely disappointed with his performances throughout the entirety of the season. His individual errors and a lack of defensive awareness caused damage to the north London club on numerous occasions in the current campaign.
Other right-backs at the club in Serge Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters haven’t won the trust of Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino just yet.
Let’s take a look at three viable options Spurs chairman Daniel Levy can look to target to solidify the fullback spot if indeed any move for Trippier materialises.
Ricardo Pereira
Leicester City fullback Ricardo Pereira was once on the transfer wishlist of Tottenham Hotspur back in 2017 and also in 2018 but the negotiations broke down. Apparently, Pereira’s parent club at the time, FC Porto played hardball with Levy and the north London club went for Serge Aurier instead.
The Portuguese international signed with the Foxes a year later and is currently one of the best right-backs in the Premier League. The 25-year-old is a versatile fullback who can play as a right winger or can fit in the wing back role as he did with Nice back in the day.
The Argentine manager would love to have someone of Pereira’s flexibility to call upon as he tinkers with his formations on a regular basis. However, the Portuguese will surely cost the London side a price north of £22m, a fee which could have initially brought him to Spurs two years back.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The Crystal Palace fullback who broke into the first team last year was arguably the best right back in the Premier League this season and Tottenham have already been linked with him.
The Eagles have put up a hefty price tag of £70m on the 21-year-old which will certainly be a roadblock for any club which wants to sign him.
The English international, who has a contract until 2022 with the club, completed his first full season for the senior side. The 21-year-old is stellar in defence and ventures into opposition territory with elan. His dribbling skills are top-notch and he rarely falters in confidence- a sign of a top quality player.
His tackling, ball-interception and concentration on the pitch are impressive for someone in his age category with so little experience under his belt.
Youcef Atal
Nice fullback Youcef Atal is another versatile player on the list. The Algerian international can play on either flank and can also shift into midfield in case the situation arises. The 23-year-old has impressed everyone in his debut season with the Ligue 1 side.
Atal is a competent dribbler and seems to be an upgrade in that department at least over Trippier but doesn’t have much experience in the top 5 leagues and could find it hard to feature right away for a club like Tottenham Hotspur. This could be a tricky one for Pochettino and co. but he is certainly worth the consideration.
Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt, Whoscored