Southampton find themselves in a great position at the moment. They are currently sat in 12th place and their situation has improved massively over the past few matches. Looking to continue their march up the table, Southampton know that they must be an active party in the current transfer window. A new report from Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider has now linked the Saints to Tottenham Hotspur full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
Kyle Walker-Peters Linked to Southampton Move
Lack of Defensive Depth
Such a deal would be great news for both Southampton and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. Cedric Soares has already announced that he will depart Southampton at the end of the season while fellow first-team right back Yan Valery has been plagued with injuries since his promotion from the youth team.
Besides this, another big issue for Southampton has been their lack of depth on defence. In fact, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl made it clear recently that he believed reinforcements were needed at the full-back position. What better way is there to address said issue than by signing a player with ample Premier League experience? Throw in the fact that Walker-Peters is only 22-years of age, and Southampton may have a truly great deal on their hands.
Lack of Match Experience an Issue?
However, one area of concern for the Saints will be the Englishman’s lack of game action in recent years. Since joining Spurs’ senior side back in 2017, Walker-Peters has made just 24 appearances in all competitions. With nine of those 24 matches coming in the FA or EFL Cup, Walker-Peters’ fitness could definitely be a concern.
That said, given the Saints’ current situation at right-back, the club may be willing to take a flyer on a young player like Walker-Peters. Any move for the right-back is certain to begin on an initial loan basis. Due to this, Southampton could have around six months to evaluate the young Englishman from an up-close and personal perspective.
If he is successful, Southampton could quickly work to make his signing a permanent one. Should Walker-Peters struggle, then Hassenhutl’s side can easily move on from the young Englishman. It’s a win-win situation.
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