The inevitable has now happened. Kyle Walker has completed his move to Premier League rivals Manchester City in a deal that could rise to in excess of £50m after add-ons.
The right-back reportedly had a falling out with manager Mauricio Pochettino towards the end of last season as Kieran Trippier was preferred to Walker in some of the bigger games during the run-in. Walker’s exclusion from the starting line-up fuelled speculation about his future, and Manchester City have taken full advantage, snapping him up two weeks into the transfer window.
Pep Guardiola’s side were in desperate need of a right-back after releasing their full-backs at the end of last season, and Daniel Levy used this fact to ensure he squeezed every last penny out of this deal, that could be worth as much as £54m, making Walker the most expensive defender ever.
Spurs fans might have seen the transfer as a reasonable one, claiming over £50m for a player that had fallen out with the manager. However, the fact that Spurs have sold to a direct rival has angered many fans, leading to them labelling Levy and the club as having a ‘selling mentality’, this is the first key player Spurs have sold since Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid for a record-breaking £85m. Here is how Spurs fans on Twitter reacted to the sale of Kyle Walker.
Bitterly disappointing exit for a player who gave us nine years of service, still coming to terms with strengthening a rival & weakening us.
— Ricky Sacks ? (@RickSpur) 14 July 2017
Just typical Spurs. Selling the league’s best RB to our rivals. What’s next? Dier to UTD? Rose to City? #THFC #COYS
— Tyler Rose (@TylerRose__) 14 July 2017
Change of mentality they said. We will always be that small mentality selling club whilst Levy remains #LevyOut
— Tottenham Hotspur (@THFC__Fans) 14 July 2017
“Tottenham till I die” didn’t last long #COYS
— SCOTT (@_SW2_) 14 July 2017
Let’s come second, sell our best players and sign no one. Well done. Xx
— Todd (@nobbsey1991) 14 July 2017
sell sell sell …..
— Debstar (@DjL03) 14 July 2017
Now this has happened, it’s time to start showing some ambition in the transfer market. No messing around, make some top quality signings.
— Kev J. Stewart (@KevJStewart) 14 July 2017
Now that Walker has completed his move away, you would hope that a lot more focus would be put on recruitment ahead of the new season. Spurs are still the only Premier League club not to have made a signing in this summer transfer window.
This leaves Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker-Peters as the only recognised right-backs at the club excluding Eric Dier. Trippier is a terrific player, and showed some of his best form in a Spurs shirt at the end of last season. As Mauricio Pochettino likes to rotate, do I think Walker-Peters is ready for regular first team action? I don’t think so, I think another right-back needs to be brought in before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August.
