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Champions League final most likely Trippier’s last Tottenham match

By Gary Pearson

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 08: Dusan Tadic of Ajax is challenged by Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur at the Johan Cruyff Arena on May 08, 2019 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images )
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 08: Dusan Tadic of Ajax is challenged by Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur at the Johan Cruyff Arena on May 08, 2019 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images ) /
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The Independent reports Napoli is not only in pole position to lure Kieran Trippier away from Tottenham, but are on the verge of securing the Englishman for £25 million. 

Of course nothing, in the lead up to the Champions League final, will be confirmed, but retaining Trippier’s services is becoming less likely each day. Reports suggest the English right back is keen on a move away from the Premier League, with Napoli ramping up the pressure on the 28-year-old.

Trippier became Spurs’ first choice right back when Kyle Walker left for Manchester City two years ago. Filling in proficiently in his first season as a starter, Trippier made 24 appearances in 2017-18 and notched five assists in the breakout year. He followed that impressive season with an exceptional run with the Three Lions in the World Cup, where he scored England’s iconic semifinal opener against Croatia from a wondrous free kick.

His 2018-19 campaign has been rife with inconsistency, with Trippier struggling to impress defensively. The underlining cause for a few dropped points, Trippier has taken some flack from Tottenham supporters for some of his haphazardness.

A polarizing topic, the prospect of selling Trippier is received in one of two ways: some supporters believe it’s time for Trippier to move on and try his hand in a new environment, while others loath the thought of losing him.

Regardless of which side of the fence you sit, selling Trippier without a bona fide replacement at the ready would be as naïve as it is irresponsible.

Serge Aurier isn’t good enough to take Trippier’s place, so it’s incumbent upon the top brass to make sure a reliable replacement has put ink to paper prior to shipping the restless right back off to Italy.

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We’ve already seen the harmful effects of playing a long, gruelling Premier League season with a sparse, skeleton crew, so let’s hope Spurs learned their lesson and don’t sell their first choice right back before sourcing a suitable replacement.