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Southampton beating Crystal Palace to sign this 22-year-old PL starlet would ease defensive woes

Why Southampton should beat Crystal Palace to sign Kyle Walker-Peters

According to The Mirror (Page 72, November 24, 2019), Southampton and Crystal Palace are interested in signing Tottenham defender Kyle Walker-Peters on loan when the transfer window reopens in January. 

However, the same report adds that the 22-year-old is willing to stay put in North London and fight for his place in the playing XI under the stewardship of new manager Jose Mourinho. 

With Kieran Trippier departing for Atletico Madrid and Serge Aurier struggling for fitness, Walker-Peters started the season as Tottenham’s first-choice right-back. He featured in three consecutive Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle United. 

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Kyle Walker-Peters started Spurs’ first three Premier League fixtures this season before suffering an injury (Getty Images)

However, a hamstring strain in the 1-0 shock defeat to Newcastle opened the door for Aurier to reclaim his place in the starting XI and the Ivorian has managed to keep the academy graduate on the bench ever since.

Having struggled for regular minutes under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, Walker-Peters will have his work cut out as far as re-establishing himself as a regular starter is concerned.

He previously played second fiddle to Trippier and now, the youngster finds himself as an understudy to Aurier. Thus, a temporary move to further his development would be wise since his contract with Spurs doesn’t run out until the summer of 2023. 

To that end, Southampton and Crystal Palace are willing to offer Kyle Walker-Peters an escape route during the mid-season trading period.

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Walker-Peters has been tipped for a loan move in January (Getty Images)

Despite his limited involvement since his breakthrough during the 2017-18 campaign, Southampton would bag a real coup if they manage to beat off competition from Palace to sign the 22-year-old on loan in January. 

That would solely depend on whether or not Tottenham are open to loaning him out in January, given that he is currently the only alternative to Aurier. However, if the Lilywhites are willing to farm him out elsewhere, Southampton should not hesitate to pounce on the opportunity. 

The Saints are reeling at the bottom of the table in the relegation zone, following a disastrous start to their Premier League campaign. They have accumulated just a couple of victories from their first 13 league fixtures so far. 

Having conceded as many as 31 goals in 13 games, Southampton currently bear the ignominy of the worst defensive record in the entire division.

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The youngster has made only 23 appearances for the Lilywhites since bursting on to the scene in the 2017-18 season (Getty Images)

With that in mind, a loan deal for Kyle Walker-Peters would certainly add depth and quality to the club’s ailing backline.

Verdict

With academy prospect Yan Valery struggling to hit top gear and Cedric Soares’ uncertain future still, the Saints must try to sign the Tottenham starlet.

Soares will be out of contract next summer and with the Portuguese star stalling on fresh terms at St. Mary’s, Southampton could be forced to cash in on him in January to avoid losing him on a free transfer (TEAMtalk h/t EN24 News).

With an average of 2.7 tackles, 1 interception, 1.7 dribbles and 0.7 key passes per game with a pass completion rate of 87.6% (whoscored), Walker-Peters would be ideal for Hasenhuttl’s philosophy that often includes two wing-backs playing in advanced roles.

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Although signing the former England U21 international on loan in January wouldn’t be a long-term solution for the Saints, the acquisition of Walker-Peters could go a long way towards shoring up a brittle backline to ensure survival in the Premier League.