SINCE Kyle Walker was sold to Manchester City in 2017, it has been more a case of wrong wing-back than right wing-back for Tottenham.
Around £90million had been spent on replacements — but none have held a candle to £50m Walker.
Now they hope to have the answer in new boy Pedro Porro.
The Spaniard, 23, should be a perfect fit for the 3-4-3 formation employed by Antonio Conte, who yesterday had surgery to remove his gallbladder.
Porro revealed his new chief’s tactical set-up was key in deciding to join on loan from Sporting Lisbon, with an obligation to turn it into a £37.3m permanent deal in the summer.
He said: “It will be a very good thing for me and that’s why I was so struck by the prospect of playing here.”
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Yet Matt Doherty’s qualities also looked like they would suit Conte’s system.
But if Doherty was such a hit then it is unlikely Spurs would have agreed to terminate the £15m man’s deal — with 18 months to run — to let him join Atletico Madrid for free.
It was strange given the understanding on Tuesday morning was that Doherty would move to Atletico on loan.
But with Djed Spence being farmed out to Rennes earlier that day, taking Spurs to the limit of eight international loans, a new arrangement had to be found.
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Fellow right wing-back Spence only arrived in July from Middlesbrough in a £15m deal.
But the 22-year-old made just six appearances and NO starts, prompting a switch.
Retained Emerson Royal, who cost an initial £21m — which could rise to £26m — when he joined in August 2021, may have the faith of the club.
But the same cannot be said for many fans. Right-back Serge Aurier cost £23m and ended up having his deal terminated.
His arrival saw Kieran Trippier sold to Atletico in 2019.
But given Trippier is the most consistent English right-back in the Prem at Newcastle, that sale has not aged well.
Neither has the £12m departure of academy graduate Kyle Walker-Peters to Southampton.
But the past is the past and Porro is the future. After the heftiest outlay yet, it would be a gut-puncher if this one did not work out.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
