Ivorian defender Serge Aurier wants to leave Tottenham, according to a report in Daily Mail.
The 26-year-old has struggled to hold down a regular place in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line up since joining Spurs from PSG in 2017.
It is understood that he has made it clear to his colleagues that he wishes to move away from north London this summer, with his former employers and AC Milan both expressing interest in ending his stay in the Premier League.
TiF Tactics – Would Aurier be missed?
Truth be told, this is a bit of strange one.
If you’re evaluating the Ivorian’s time in north London based purely on how he has performed on the field, then you would have to say that Spurs could afford to lose him.
Just 22 Premier League starts in two years tells a story in itself, and his form has been so inconsistent that he has made it hard for Pochettino to put his faith in him.
In his six Premier League starts last year, Aurier managed 2.5 tackles as he was dribbled past just 0.9 times per game, as per Whoscored.
In the Champions League, those figures slump to 1.6 tackles and a rate of being dribbled past at 1.2 times per match.
There is clearly a big talent in there somewhere, but until he learns to put in a minimum of a 7/10 performance every week, then how can he expect to be in the starting line up?
In fact, the only thing that might prevent Pochettino from sanctioning his exit is the fact that Spurs are noticeably short at right-back.
Kyle Walker-Peters is the only other fit option, with Juan Foyth sidelined and inexperienced in that area.
That could be enough to convince Pochettino to tie Aurier down, even if the defender wants to leave.
Is he likely to go?
It’s all down to Pochettino at this stage.
It would be a gamble to let him go, no doubt, but the Argentine clearly prioritises the harmony of his dressing room above all else, and if Aurier is making sounds that he wants to be away then don’t be surprised to see him ushered out of a door marked “exit”.
If that is the route that Pochettino does choose, then at least there should be plenty of suitors for the full-back, but it would be fascinating to see whether Daniel Levy, shrewdest negotiator of them all, could turn a profit on the £22.5 million Spurs paid for him a couple of seasons ago.