Why Tottenham should make a move for Elseid Hysaj in January

Tottenham Hotspur’s right back situation is causing some concern, especially after the club sold Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid in the summer.

Mauricio Pochettino chose not to replace Trippier, showing he was seemingly happy to stick with Kyle Walker-Peters, Serge Aurier and a makeshift Juan Foyth.

However, Foyth got injured against Bayern Munich during the Audi Cup final in the pre-season, as Pochettino started the new Premier League with Walker-Peters and Aurier.

Walker-Peters started the season well as Tottenham’s first-choice right-back but he suffered a hamstring injury in the shock 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.

Serge Aurier is still in the mix but may find that his first-team chances are limited this season. Given his situation, he was keen on leaving the club in the summer having struggled to tie down a regular spot in Pochettino’s side since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

Although the departure of Trippier had been expected to see the 26-year-old given more opportunities, the Ivory Coast international is yet to make any appearances for Spurs this season.

The matter of fact that Aurier was snubbed in favour of Davinson Sanchez, a natural centre-back, against Arsenal in the north London derby tells how far he has fallen down the pecking order. Should the situation doesn’t change, the chances of the Ivorian leaving Tottenham in January remain high.

Walker-Peters has recovered from his hamstring injury and Pochettino is likely to stick with the academy star rather play Aurier in the Premier League.

To put things into perspective, the Spurs boss has little faith in Aurier and must cash him in during the January transfer window. And by doing so, the Argentinean should sign a new right-back that would realistically cover and compete with Walker-Peters.

The Calciomercato had claimed in July that Tottenham were interested in signing Napoli right-back, Elseid Hysaj. A deal didn’t go through then as Carlo Ancelotti was keen to keep hold of the Albanian this season.

But Napoli signed a new right-back in Giovani di Lorenzo from Empoli this summer and with Kevin Malcuit already ahead of Elseid Hysaj in the pecking order, the Albanian international must leave Naples in search of regular game time.

Given the desire on the Albanian international’s side to leave Napoli, he could be an easily attainable signing for Tottenham in the January transfer window.

Hysaj, 25, has not started a game for Napoli yet this season but he was picked for Albania’s EURO 2020 qualifiers against France and Iceland. He is an attacking right-back and has the pace and power to go up and down the flank for the full 90 minutes.

The former Empoli man is 25 and will help navigate the many competitions that Spurs will be competing in this season.

The Albanian international registered only two assists last season but he would bring balance to Spurs’ defence and definitely improve a side that’s always willing to play on the front foot.

Verdict

Napoli wanted €25 million for Hysaj in the summer and that price will only drop if he doesn’t play much for the club from now on and until January.

Thus, there is potentially every chance of Spurs getting the 25-year-old defender on a bargain deal in the New Year.