Even though Tottenham Hotspur had already signed young left back prospect Souza by that point to help provide depth for an oft injured Destiny Udogie while competing with Djed Spence for minutes, Spurs were still highly interested in swiping away Liverpool icon Andrew Robertson to add more supposed veteran leadership to the side.
Apparently, the geniuses at the Tottenham scouting department could only recruit players like Conor Gallagher and Robertson since they were known commodities in the Premier League before, or maybe they simply decided to hitch their wagons to veteran players with limited upside because they were already beginning to see themselves in a relegation fight.
Whatever the case, Tottenham were not successful in their chase for Robertson, and, at the time, Spurs supporters were sold on the deal not happening because Liverpool were unable to find a replacement for him, as they wanted to get Konstantinos Tsimikas back from Roma but were unable to.
Andrew Robertson rejected Tottenham
Apparently, that was not the story. As relayed by top transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Andrew Robertson said that he, like Antoine Semenyo before the winter window started, simply rejected Tottenham Hotspur:
“There was obviously interest from Spurs in January… but the decision was that I wanted to stay. This club has given me everything and I've given this club everything. I’ve always been committed. Now as soon as I decide my future, it will be announced”.
Obviously, it makes far more sense for Robertson to stay with Liverpool, even as a backup, because of his love for the club. And even though the Reds are not in their best moment this season, they are certainly in a better situation than Tottenham, who are in the thick of a relegation fight and in an even worse spot than they were back when they had interest in Robertson in January.
Tottenham fans are used to the rejection by now, but it is still not a good look for Spurs that Robertson would have preferred to be a backup player at Liverpool than potentially get starts for Tottenham. It makes it look even worse on Johan Lange and the front office for not being able to convince or recruit Robertson. He probably cared more abou the nostalgia of staying with Liverpool, but it is also telling that Tottenham did not want anyone to know that they were rejected by Robertson, instead sticking with the story that the Reds could not find cover.