Desperate to sign a full-back during the winter transfer window, Southampton have now secured the loan of Kyle Walker-Peters. The former Tottenham Hotspur right-back joins the Saints until the end of the season. The former England U-21 international comes with both a high amount of potential as well as quite a bit of risk considering his lack of match experience.
Southampton Secure Kyle Walker-Peters Loan Deal
Since joining Spurs’ senior side back in 2017, Walker-Peters has made just 24 appearances in all competitions. Of those 24 matches, nine have come in either the FA or EFL Cup. Walker-Peters’ fitness could definitely be a concern. Moreso, the 22-year-old’s last senior side appearance came back in December when Tottenham played away to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
However, one thing that Walker-Peters does promise to provide is pure talent. Despite his lack of appearances with the Spurs’ senior side, Walker-Peters has long been seen as a great talent. Coming up through Tottenham’s academy, the London-born right-back was for a time, the brightest prospect in the Spurs youth ranks.
In recent months though, that star has begun to dim. Following the appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager, rumours began to swirl about Walker-Peters’ future. Sought after by both Crystal Palace and Southampton, the right-back is believed to have met with both club’s managers. These meetings likely played a big role in the Englishman’s decision to sign with the Saints.
Making the move to the South Coast of England, Walker-Peters will now have a chance to some first-team minutes. Playing most of the campaign with just three senior side full-backs, Southampton has struggled defensively. At the right-back position specifically, Ralph Hasenhuttl has watched at both Cedric Soares and Yan Valery struggle with consistency.
Adding Walker-Peters to the mix, Hasenhuttl now has another option to choose from when forming his team. Most importantly, is the stability that Walker-Peters brings to this Saints side. With Cedric out-of-contract this summer, Southampton would have been down to just two first-team full-back options. Addressing that issue early, Southampton have improved their position both now and in the future.
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