Although the majority of the news is about the coach that shall not be named, there continues to be smoke around the rumor that Serge Aurier is leaving. In an interview with the French outlet Le Quipe (The Team), the fullback talked about the end of his cycle at Tottenham and his desire to return to PSG. While Aurier splits opinion among fans, most will be happy to have someone new in the right-back rotation. With the idea of Aurier leaving in mind, here are three relatively ready-made right-back options for Tottenham Hotspur.
What does Tottenham need at right-back?
The reality is that until a new manager is hired and we can begin to understand their coaching philosophy, we are shooting in the dark on the kind of fullback that Tottenham really would want to replace Aurier.
If Aurier were to go this summer, it would leave Tottenham with Matt Doherty and Japhet Tanganga at right back. Doherty struggled during his first season at N17. After a relatively bright start, his season seemed to unwind like many of the players and Spurs really did not see his best.
Japhet Tanganga is a promising young defender but has had trouble staying healthy during his time with the first team. Every time he seems to get going, injuries seem to derail his progress. Further, whether or not Tanganga is even best suited for right-back or a center-back position is even debatable.
With the threesome of Aurier, Doherty, and Tanganga, it is difficult to argue against the idea of bringing in some new blood. Here are three relatively ready-to-go replacements for Serge Aurier.
Long term Tottenham target Max Aarons
Tottenham has had several long-term targets over the last couple of seasons, one of which is Max Aarons of Norwich City. Only 21, Aarons has 130 starts with Norwich City, including 3 in the Premier League.
The fullback played in 45 of the 46 matches in their title-winning Championship campaign this past season. Max played all but one minute of the 45 matches for the Canaries and only missed a game due to international duty.
Aarons was very good in those matches managing two goals and five assists from his right-back position. Those statistics are reflective of a player who likes to dribble, often from deep as he rarely is the one carrying the ball into the attacking third. With more key passes (1.4) than crosses (0.8) per match, Aarons looks for ways to be incisive despite playing under a lot of pressure as Norwich looked top layout of the back.
Defensively, Aarons really understands how to use his speed and short-area quickness to be terrific as an on-the-ball defender – something Tottenham is lacking. Aarons is adept at blocking passes and shots. He is solid in the tackle and is in the top 99% percentile in terms of being dribbled past for fullbacks according to fbref.com.
Yes, Aaron’s is on the smaller side at only 5’8″ or 1.85 m, but he is a willing defender and adds some things Spurs are simply lacking with his speed and on-ball defense. Currently valued at $22 million (£15.5 million), Aarons is not out of the ballpark in terms of cost but is contracted until 2024.
Of course with Norwich moving up to the Premier League, they will be looking to hang on to Aarons likely driving up his price if something is not worked out early in the summer. Young, aggressive, good technically as a defender, and downright fast, Aarons checks a lot of boxes.
The German Max Aaron – Ridle Baku
Ridle Baku a right-back currently playing for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. The fact Baku is smaller in stature and likes to drive forward as a right fullback gives him some commonalities with Max Aarons. A 23-year-old German, Baku has already played 82 matches in the Bundesliga and has contributed an impressive nine goals and 11 assists in that time.
Baku came up in the Mainz 05 academy starting with the youth team back in 2013. working his way through the ranks, Ridle eventually played 54 games for the senior side before moving on to Wolfsburg last October.
Ridle is a bit more versatile in terms of positioning than Aarons playing both at right-back – his natural position – and right-wing. However, do not think he is just a player who attacks and happens to play defense, he is a defender first. With 267 ball recoveries this pasts season, Baku is all action all the time.
Ridle is an above-average passer whose completion percentages are diminished by the aggressive, forward style of football played at Wolfsburg and in Germany. Under contract until 2025 but valued at just $24.5 million or £17.3 million, certainly, Tottenham is capable of testing Wolfsburg’s resolve. Ridle made his debut for the German national team last November but does not appear to be going to Euro so has some time to do a transfer.
If it is Conte, can he bring Achraf Hakimi
Achraf Hakimi is a Moroccan fullback who was trained in the Real Madrid system. Last fall he was one of several players recruited by potential Tottenham manager Antonio Conte to Inter Milan and Hakimi had an incredible season.
Hakimi has played a handful of games for Real Madrid, with two goals and an assist in just 17 appearances all at right-back for the club. Looking for more time and experience than he was getting at Real Madrid, Hakimi went on loan to Borussia Dortmund and exploded in Germany. Playing at both right- and left-back as well as right midfield, Achraf Hakimi was a revelation at Dortmund.
Over parts of two seasons at the German club, Hakimi featured 73 times and added an incredible 12 goals and 17 assists in just under 6,000 minutes. While this production got him nowhere at Real Madrid, it did produce a big payday for the club as he was sold to Conte and Inter for $49.5 million (£34.9 million).
During his season under Conte at Inter, Hakimi mostly played right midfield and poured in seven goals and 11 assists during the Serie A side’s title-winning run. A player that will be VERY expensive but could be very worth it in adding some real options to the right side of the Tottenham line-up. With Inter having issues and Conte potentially coming to Tottenham, one can dream right.
Of the three we have only heard links with Max Aarons but if Serge Aurier does indeed depart, you can expect a lot more links to be forthcoming, it would be nice if Baku and Hakimi were part of that conversation.