Reports (Evening Standard) have emerged that Catalan giants Barcelona are planning a move for Tottenham’s Kyle Walker as a potential replacement for the departed Brazilian right-back Dani Alves. Dani Alves left Barcelona and joined Juventus on a free transfer at the start of 2016/17 season, after spending 8 years in Spain. Since then, Barca have been using Aleix Vidal as his successor and things have not panned out well for the defending La Liga champions.
Aleix Vidal suffered a horrific leg break during their 6-0 thrashing of Deportivo Alaves when he was tackled by Theo Hernandez in the 87th minute. Barcelona have confirmed that the player will be out until next season and have since played Sergi Roberto in a right back role.
With Vidal expected to be out for a long time, Barcelona are reportedly planning a move for Tottenham Hotspur regular Kyle Walker. The English full-back has made 212 appearances for the club and is only 26-years old. He joined the club as a youngster and has gone on to establish himself as their first choice right back over the years. He has been in terrific form for Spurs this season and that has not gone unnoticed with Manchester clubs targeting the fullback as well (The Sun).
Walker signed a long-term contract with Tottenham last year, which was a 5-year deal and hence it will be difficult for any club that is interested in securing the defender’s services to convince Daniel Levy to commit to a bargain price. There is every chance that the Lilywhites will play hardball with the clubs that negotiate a price for Kyle Walker.
Kyle has played his part this season in Spurs setting the joint-top in the least number of goals conceded in English top-flight, with the team having conceded just 18 goals this term. Walker’s ability to operate as a wing-back will come as a bonus and is an attractive proposition to have in a player. His pace, his ability to join the attacks and his contribution during the build-up play, are the factors that are considered really important for a modern full-back to be considered a threat and Kyle is exactly that.
He might be a perfect fit for the Blaugrana, considering that Dani Alves is not at Barca anymore. But it will be really hard for the club to tempt Spurs to sell the defender, and even more difficult to convince Walker to move to Spain, as he has been at London for a long time.
There is every chance that Walker may never move out of Tottenham as the club are making giant strides on and off the pitch and this might be his chance to etch his name in the history books of Tottenham Hotspur!
