OPINION
Despite winning their opening game of the season with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United, Tottenham fans will still be fuming over the lack of transfer business during the summer.
Mauricio Pochettino did not welcome a single new face to join the squad, with the club instead focusing on tying down their star men – such as Harry Kane, Davinson Sanchez and the manager himself – down to new long-term contracts in north London.
While the Premier League window might have closed, the European markets are still wide open, leaving the top flight sides in England vulnerable to losing their star men without having the opportunity to replace them.
That could well be the case with right back Serge Aurier, with RMC Sport claiming that while Atletico Madrid might have dropped their interest in his capture, German giants Borussia Dortmund are still keen, although he seems set to stay at Spurs.
Really though, despite having started the first game of the season and having only signed last summer, Pochettino and Daniel Levy should be giving a shock green light to his exit all thanks to one man – Kyle Walker-Peters.
The 21-year-old is a graduate of Spurs’ youth academy and in nine appearances for the first team has begun to impress, but with Aurier and Kieran Trippier ahead of him in the pecking order, game time is at a premium.
He needs to be playing regularly to continue his development, and with Aurier being a liability at the back, he could easily act as Trippier’s understudy.
His inclusion in the squad will also help Pochettino with his homegrown quota for the Champions League, and having already shown fans a taste of what he is about, they would love to see him dazzle them week in, week out.
Selling Aurier is a risk, especially considering the fact they cannot recruit anyone until January, but with Walker-Peters watching on, it is a risk worth taking.