If Tottenham right back is sold to Monaco, good riddance

Getting rid of Serge Aurier is a move that will benefit Tottenham in the long run, regardless of the immediate, comparatively small financial pitfall the club faces.

Spurs knew the risk when they signed Aurier, whose rap sheet reads more like a gangster’s.

Ignoring perceptible red flags, Spurs signed the midfielder on August 31, 2017 for an appropriately discounted £23 million fee. On his Premier League début on Sept. 23, 2017, his erratic reputation lived up to the billing. Aurier, after two reckless challenges, the second of which is still impossible to explain, was given his marching orders, placing the impetus in West Ham’s corner. Although Spurs hung on for the 3-2 away victory, it was a clear sign of things to come from the impetuous Ivorian.

An infamously atrocious outing later that season in the Round-of-16 first leg against Juventus in the Champions League perfectly summed up his time thus far in north London. While powerful and athletic, his propensity to make outrageous mental blunders extinguish any potential upside.

Aurier has shown glimpses of living up to his potential, but those moments are far too sparing for Mauricio Pochettino to entrust the embattled right back with any notable responsibility.

Aurier is linked with a move back to France, as Monaco are interested in signing the 26-year-old. A club more suited to his skill level, Monaco are in a position to be more lenient and forgiving of Aurier’s inconsistencies.

Barely avoiding relegation in Ligue 1, Monaco finished the 2018-19 season in 17th place, a single spot above the drop zone.

Tottenham are bound to lose about £10 million on the deal, which would result in a rare transactional shortfall for the usually business-savvy side. If possible, by getting Youri Tielemans in return, Spurs will try avoid losing Aurier for a measly £13 million.

Tielemans, who is being linked to many clubs including Spurs, would sweeten massively the deal for Mauricio Pochettino. How realistic that component of the potential deal remains unknown, but it constitutes an ideal outcome.

But as far as Aurier is concerned, N17 bids him adieu, offering the erratic right back an enthusiastic bon voyage.