Tottenham prepare to take giant transfer risk at Jose Mourinho’s request
Jose Mourinho is ready to overhaul his options at fullback. Tottenham are prepared to sell two right backs this offseason to make way for new signings.
Tottenham may not have a lot of transfer cash to spend this summer, but that isn’t stopping Jose Mourinho from making big changes at a few positions. In particular, the Portuguese gaffer is convinced that a massive overhaul is needed to improve his options at right back.
It’s entirely possible that Spurs will sell their top two options at the position within the next week. Kyle Walker-Peters appears set to return to Southampton on a permanent transfer for £12 million. He didn’t make an impact at Tottenham for Mourinho last season, but he was a credible Premier League player for the Saints. His move to the South Coast isn’t a surprise, but it does take one option at the position away from Spurs.
The club’s willingness to part with Serge Aurier is a different matter altogether. Aurier was a mainstay in Mourinho’s starting XI last season. The fact that Spurs are willing to sell him to AC Milan for £20 million will leave Tottenham with a massive void to fill. The Ivory Coast international isn’t a perfect player by any stretch of the imagination, but he was Spurs’ best option at right back last year.
The risk for Spurs is that they’ll suddenly find themselves without a single senior right back. Defenders like Japhet Tanganga and Juan Foyth might be able to provide some cover out wide, but neither is qualified to be the team’s top or even second option at right back next season. Every club in the world will immediately understand that Spurs desperately need to add multiple right backs this summer.
Tottenham would clearly prefer to purchase a new right back before parting with both Walker-Peters and Aurier. They clearly don’t believe they can afford to wait if they want to receive quality fees for both stars. That’s why Mourinho is sanctioning both moves without the presence of adequate cover.
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The challenge for Tottenham now will be to avoid paying over the odds for right backs that might be available in the transfer market. Other clubs will try their best to gouge Spurs if given the opportunity. The North London club is taking a big risk by moving forward with no senior right backs at their disposal. Time will tell how much money it might cost the club.