According to a recent report by Calciomercato (via Gianlucadimarzio.com), Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kieran Trippier is being linked with a move to Manchester United during the summer transfer window. The same source has revealed that the English defender’s poor run of form has cast doubt over his long-term future at Spurs.
Trippier’s Defensive Struggles and Offensive Prowess
Trippier had a stellar 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign with England in Russia. However, his form for Spurs at the defensive end of the pitch has been a significant cause for concern. Even then, the English right-back can still be quite a potent threat going forward.
Mauricio Pochettino has shown in the past that he can get the best out of Trippier. The defensive concern behind his game could be a temporary problem as the player might be lacking in confidence while defending his own half. Hence, the Spurs manager could be better of retaining the full-back’s services for the time being.
Maybe a good pre-season ahead of the new campaign could just be what reignites Trippier’s career at White Hart Lane. Even then, it is no wonder that an elite like Man United are trying to recruit him as his attacking returns have been quite impressive over the past couple of seasons.
The 28-year-old has featured in 33 matches for Spurs this term, scoring one goal while grabbing five assists across all competitions. More importantly, he has made an average of 2.4 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 2.0 clearances per game thus far (Stats taken from Whoscored).
Trippier is also experienced at the international level, having made 16 appearances for the Three Lions in his career. He scored a memorable goal versus Croatia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup which has been the highlight of his England career so far.
Should Spurs Part Ways With Trippier?
There is no doubt that Trippier has a lot of room for improvement and at 28, he still has a few years left in his locker to prove his worth consistently at the highest level. Hence, Pochettino should consider sticking with him for now and fend off interest from Man United in the process. The last thing that Spurs fans would want is to lose their star right-back to one of the North London club’s top 6 rivals.
