Serge Aurier has been with Tottenham since 2017 (Getty Images)
According to a report from the Evening Standard, Serge Aurier is among a host of players who will be allowed to leave this summer if Tottenham receive the right offer.
With Tottenham finally moving into their new stadium earlier this week, the north Londoners will be hoping to make a splash in the market again, with Mauricio Pochettino in dire need of new faces after failing to sign a single player in the past two transfer windows.
Despite the club in no pressure to sell before they can buy, Pochettino knows how important it’ll be to balance the books after Spurs spent millions on building the new stadium.
And the report claims Tottenham are willing to listen to offers for Aurier and Kieran Trippier, the club’s two senior right-backs, in the summer.
Trippier is Pochettino’s first-choice at right-back but the England international has endured a torrid season. After enjoying a stellar World Cup campaign in Russia last year, he was expected to come good for Spurs. But the 28-year-old has been a liability at times for Spurs, failing to the do the basics in defending.
Hence, it’s no surprise to see Spurs willing to offload Trippier at the end of the season. What does appear baffling is Pochettino is also ready to let go of Aurier in the summer transfer window. Just like Trippier, Aurier hasn’t enjoyed the best of time in Spurs colours this term. In fact, the Ivorian has struggled to live up to the billing in north London since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
When compared to Trippier, however, Aurier is more aggressive and better defensively. He may be reckless when it comes to tackles and challenges but the 26-year-old makes it up with his pace, intensity and energy. The Ivory Coast international works tirelessly throughout the game and is a committed player who looks to give 100% every time he’s on the pitch.
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Set to turn 27 in December, Aurier still has time to revive his career at Spurs by ironing out the defensive flaws in his game which has held him back from reaching his true potential. If the right-back gets regular opportunities and constant backing from the manager, he could become one of the best full-backs in the Premier League.
Offloading Trippier will be a step in the right direction but Spurs cannot afford to lose Aurier, at least in the same transfer window. The former Toulouse star has shown his quality in flashes and it won’t be long before he nails down a regular place in Pochettino’s starting XI.