Former England international Danny Mills has advised Tottenham Hotspur not to sell right back Kieran Trippier this summer.
The former Burnley man struggled throughout this season after a rollicking World Cup in Russia a year ago, to the point that Football Insider reported on Thursday that Italian giants Napoli are confident of signing him.
Mills has had his say: “Tottenham have to be very careful about selling him,” he told Football Insider. “He has had a drop in standards after the World Cup, but he is undoubtedly a very good player.
“Spurs should not let one of their best players go. Trippier has not had a disastrous season and I would definitely not sell him and pull the plug. Sure, he’s not been as good as he was last season, when he was exceptional. But you can’t say to him, ‘we are going to get rid of you’. You keep him and work with him. I’m very confident he will be better next season.”
OPINION
This is a bit of a strange take from Mills. Trippier was absolutely atrocious this season; genuinely one of Spurs’ worst players. His defending, which has never been his strength, went down the toilet, while his attacking contributions diminished as well. At this point, it’s surely better to sell him this summer while the team can still get some value for him. Otherwise you risk him underperforming again next time out and shifting him for relatively peanuts a year from now. For Mills to say that Trippier is one of Tottenham’s best players is pretty laughable. Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Son Heung-min – these are Spurs’ top talents. Trippier is certainly not one of them after the dirge he served up this season. If Napoli – or anyone else – are willing to spend big money on the right back this summer then Tottenham should move him on while they can. His best days, it appears, are firmly behind him.