The Sun’s Alan Nixon has recently tweeted that Wolverhampton Wanderers are keeping a keen eye on Tottenham Hotspur full-back Serge Aurier ahead of a potential move in this off-season. It is believed that Wolves have identified the Ivorian right-back as an ideal replacement for Matt Doherty who joined Spurs earlier this summer.
WOLVES. Keeping an eye on Serge Aurier. Linked with Milan and PSG, still at SPURS. Poss swap or buy to replace Doherty. Maitland-Niles thing still to be done.
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) September 6, 2020
Aurier’s Rollercoaster Of A Season At North London
It was a campaign of mixed emotions for the ex-Paris Saint-Germain talent as he put in a string of productive displays as Jose Mourinho’s first-choice right-back, but struggled to help Spurs remain consistent in the Premier League. Aurier featured in 42 matches for the London giants in the previous term, netting two goals and grabbing eight assists in various competitions. However, he missed a handful of games last season because of multiple injuries he sustained over the past 12 months.
The 27-year-old did well to produce the goods at both ends of the field after averaging 2.8 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 2.5 clearances, 1.0 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per 90 minutes in the English top-flight. He was relatively accurate with his ball-distribution as evident from his pass completion rate of 79.1% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
Following Doherty’s recent arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Aurier might be surplus to requirements at the English capital. Hence, the Molineux Stadium could be an attractive destination for him to consider during this summer transfer window.
What Will The Ivory Coast International Bring To The Table?
Aurier has got the pace and power to make some lung-bursting runs with the ball down the right flank. He is a great athlete and tends to eat up a lot of ground at both ends of the pitch. The 60-time Ivory Coast international is capable of delivering some dangerous crosses into the opponent’s six-yard box. He has also got the football intelligence to get in behind the opposition defence which makes him such a threat going forward.
Plus, the Tottenham right-back has made some crucial interceptions and last-ditch clearances for his side over the past couple of seasons. However, Aurier can sometimes lack concentration when defending inside his half which can see him give away needless fouls, sometimes even inside his penalty box. Thus, he can be a bit unreliable when it comes to his all-round influence on the pitch.
Will Recruiting Aurier Be A Wise Move For Wolves This Summer?
Aurier could be a wise option for the West Midlands side as he will flourish playing as a wing-back on the right side of Nuno Espirito Santo’s midfield. However, the Ivorian full-back needs to improve his concentration level if he wants to be successful as a Wolves player next season. He will significantly bolster the quality of Nuno Santo’s first-team and could help them challenge for a European place once again in the upcoming Premier League campaign.
