Kyle Walker-Peters could be in line for a sensational return to Tottenham this summer.
The 28-year-old came through the youth ranks in N17, before leaving the club to join Southampton in the summer of 2020. He has spent the last five years with the Saints, and made 33 appearances last season for the South Coast outfit as they were relegated in embarrassing fashion.
However, the defender has established himself as a reliable and consistent full-back over the years at St Mary’s, and his efforts were rewarded with a pair of senior England caps back in 2022.
With Tottenham now preparing to return to the Champions League next season, a move back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could be on the cards for Walker-Peters.
Tottenham could target Walker-Peters after Southampton release
Tottenham’s qualification for the Champions League brings additional requirements for Thomas Frank and Co. as they prepare the squad for next season.
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Spurs will need to name a 25-man squad for Europe’s premier club competition, but eight of those 25 must ‘qualify as a locally trained player.’ Of those eight, at least four must have spent three years at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
They are currently struggling to meet those requirements, and that has prompted the club to explore ways in which they could bring back players who had previously spent time there as a youngster.
That has led them to identify Kyle Walker-Peters as a potential target this summer, according to Football London (20 June).
Southampton confirmed the right-back’s release recently by leaving him off their official retained list, which was recently submitted to the Premier League. That means he will be available as a free agent this summer, and as such, he has attracted interest from the likes of Everton and Wolves.
Tottenham are also keen, but are likely to target their other priorities first, before returning to Walker-Peters later in the window, if he is still available.
Tottenham should offer Walker-Peters a contract straight away
With Pedro Porro still under contract for next season, adding options at right-back is not likely to be a major priority for Spurs this summer, but that shouldn’t stop them from tabling a contract offer for Walker-Peters straight away.
If they do opt to cool their interest until the latter stages of the window, it would be no surprise at all to see the defender pen a deal elsewhere in the Premier League, given that he has shown that he could be a very useful addition for clubs in the bottom half of the table.
Tottenham may rather wait until they can sort their other transfer business first, but that would surely mean missing out on Walker-Peters.
The former Hotspur Way youth team man likely wouldn’t have significant wage demands, and could easily come in and replace Djed Spence as the second-choice right-back.
Ultimately, Tottenham must make compromises somewhere in the squad if they are to meet UEFA’s Champions League requirements, and Walker-Peters seems to be a very logical option to help do that.