Andy Robertson’s arrival at Tottenham is expected to trigger a temporary departure of a defender.
After saying goodbye to Liverpool fans on the final day of the season last weekend, Andy Robertson is now set to join Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer once his Anfield deal expires next month.
After a January move to N17 broke down, Spurs did not lose hope of landing Robertson. After patiently waiting for months, they have secured the Scotland skipper’s services despite a late attempt from Juventus to hijack the move.
Robertson is a decorated player in Liverpool’s history, once regarded as the best left-back in the Premier League. He made 378 appearances for the Reds, whilst lifting nine trophies. Those include two Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup. Even at a ripe age of 32, the Scot’s ability to make a difference at both ends of the pitch cannot be questioned.
Spurs striking a verbal agreement to sign Robertson next month shows the concerns they shared inside the club over Destiny Udogie’s performance levels and fitness. While the Liverpool great’s arrival should benefit Udogie, it is bad news for another left-back in the current Tottenham squad.
Souza set to depart Tottenham after latest transfer developments
According to a report from Football Insider, Souza is set to leave Tottenham this summer amid the impending arrival of Robertson. He is set to be loaned out for regular opportunities, as Roberto De Zerbi looks to reshape his squad.
When Udogie was sidelined with a hamstring injury, Spurs decided to splash £13million to sign Souza from Santos during the January transfer window. The teenager received rave reviews after his breakthrough in the Santos senior side, leading to several clubs across the globe take notice. The Lilywhites sensed an opportunity and beat stiff competition to sign the Brazilian left-back to bring in some much-needed competition for the injury-prone Udogie.
However, Souza was limited to only four Premier League outings, two of which came as a starter. He clocked 144 minutes of top-flight action. Interestingly, the defender’s game time under De Zerbi was nonexistent. He was a mere spectator from the bench across the seven games De Zerbi managed at Tottenham.
Now with the Lilywhites set to bring in Robertson, it has raised question marks on Souza’s immediate future in N17. The former Brazilian Under-17 international is set to slip even further down the pecking order at left-back, which makes sense why the club bosses are planning to loan him out during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Souza is a raw talent with potential, and if he wants to unlock it, he must play regularly. Robertson’s arrival, coupled with the presence of Udogie and Djed Spence, will block his pathway of getting regular minutes at Spurs. Thus, a temporary exit could be beneficial for all parties involved.