According to reports in Italy, as cited by Daily Star, AC Milan have expressed an interest in Serge Aurier. The Tottenham Hotspur right-back was a subject of Rossoneri interest last year as club’s technical director Paolo Maldini confirmed, shortly after their win over Cagliari.
This is what Maldini said when asked about Aurier, “We spoke to his agent last year. We think about ending the season well, then in these three weeks we have to operate on the market.”
The Spurs ace is believed to be valued around £22 million, with his contract expiring in the summer of 2022.
Serge Aurier: An essential part of Tottenham?
From a theoretical perspective, Aurier has been crucial to Tottenham’s strong finish to the campaign and in the team as a whole since he is the only viable right-back option available at the moment.
After a rocky start under Jose Mourinho, the Ivorian has flourished, to an extent, under the Portuguese mastermind. He has been an ever-present figure in the backline, too, having featured in almost every match this year.
Indeed, his versatility of not only playing as an orthodox right-back but also as a wing-back has allowed Mourinho to switch between a three and a four-man backline effortlessly. It has come in handy especially when dealing with teams like Arsenal, Sheffield United or Chelsea.
On the flip side, however, Aurier has remained inconsistent with his performances. Especially in the defensive department, the ex-PSG star has lacked discipline and has failed to keep up with his markers, which is certainly not acceptable in Mourinho’s rigid defence-oriented tactical setup.
Can Tottenham afford to sell Aurier?
Aurier’s potential departure from Tottenham hinges on a lot of factors. As mentioned earlier, the Lilywhites don’t have any alternative options at right-back, especially with Kyle Walker-Peters, likely to continue at Southampton.
Japhet Tanganga has shown promising signs, but his services could be needed at centre-back following the departure of Jan Vertonghen. That means Tottenham must sign a new right-back regardless of the future of their existing players. They have already been linked with a move for Max Aarons, and after Norwich City’s relegation, negotiations could be made much easier.
Aarons or even someone like Timothy Castagne could be an ideal replacement for Aurier, although that still won’t allow Spurs to get rid of Ivorian due to the strenuous schedule of English football that often requires teams to rotate their squad week in week out. Besides, the presence of Aurier should also add an incentive for a potential new signing to fight for his place in the first-team.
