Southampton could make a move for young Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kyle Walker-Peters in the current transfer window. The English full-back has come through the Spurs academy, but he may not have a future at the north London club.
As per Daily Mail, the Saints want to bring the 22-year-old on loan to the club till the end of the season, before deciding on signing him on a permanent deal. The future fee that Southampton will have to pay is said to be around £12 million. West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also reportedly interested in signing Walker-Peters, but the report states that the Saints are the favourites to complete a deal in this window.
The young Englishman’s contract with Spurs expires in 2023. He has made 24 appearances for them, scoring once and providing 5 assists.
Kyle Walker-Peters: Good move in the offing?
Southampton have turned things around in recent weeks after a poor run of form in the first half of the 2019-20 season. They have done so without the services of Yan Valery, who has been out since October. The other option at right-back, Cedric Soares, will be out of action for a month after suffering an injury recently.
Soares’ contract with the club expires at the end of the season, and he revealed last year that he will leave the club at the end of his current contract. This means that the Saints need to sign another right-back to provide competition to Valery in the first XI.
Kyle Walker-Peters could be a good option for Southampton. The youngster is a confident and quick dribbler, who likes to attack whenever provided with the opportunity, while he also passes it well from the back. The right-back may not have the quality to make it at Spurs, especially with Jose Mourinho in charge, who likes tall and strong players, even in full-back positions. But Kyle will be afforded the room to express himself in the setup at St.Mary’s with Hasenhuttl renowned for getting his players to perform at their peak potential.
His ability to press well, move forward quickly, as well as pass/cross the ball well makes him a good signing for a club like a Southampton and a good replacement for Soares. The 22-year-old is a player with a lot of promise and one that would do well with a change in scenery and at a club which is looking to consolidate its position in the top half of the table.