Janmaat to challenge Walker

Tottenham have no experienced back up right back with Kyle Naughton expected to be sold.
Janmaat to challenge Walker


Kyle Walker plays most games and that may well have contributed to the groin injury that saw him miss the World Cup. He is always keen to play and towards the end of the season was still offering to play even if it meant jeopardising his World Cup place.

Kyle Naughton is now 25, he will be 26 in November and isn't rated at all by the majority of Spurs fans. He has done a job for the club covering both full-back positions and had a run in the team towards the end of the season, however he has made some glaring errors.

The farcical moment at White Hart lane against Southampton where he ran forward and allowed the ball to bounce over his head from which that scored springs to mind. Which other side challenging for top 4 would make such an error?

Back in February he told the press he wants to be first choice or he may have to leave Tottenham.

“I am 25 and there is a stage that you reach when you think, ‘Well, am I going to be No 1?’

"That is what I am looking for. I want to be playing every single week. I want to be playing regularly. I am not sure what is going to happen, but if I can’t hold down a first-team spot then I do have to look elsewhere.

“I am not going to lie - I am a right-back. That is the position I want to play in, but it has been difficult with Kyle Walker doing so well.”

If Naughton leaves the only back up is inexperienced 21 year-old Ryan Fredericks who went on loan to Millwall in January. He needs further development before he is ready to take over the back up slot to Walker so Tottenham have been looking around to see who may be available.

One option is Micah Richards who has told Man City he is leaving and would cost around £15 million (€18.46m). Another option, according to The Daily Mail, is 24 year old Dutch right back Daryl Janmaat.

They claim Sours have contacted Feyenoord regarding his availability and have been quoted a figure of £6m (€7.39m) for him. The Dutch side confirmed on their official website in April that Janmaat would be leaving the club after contract negotiations broke down. The powerful right-back has made no secret of his desire to play in the Premier League.

Spurs would face competition from North London rivals Arsenal who have been tracking Janmaat for months as a replacement for Bacary Sagna. He only has a year left on his contract and is valued around £7 million (€8.62m). Napoli are also trying to buy him and have made an offer of £4.87 million (€6m) which has been turned down.

Janmaat can also play left-back so could provide the cover Kyle Naughton provides at the moment allowing Jan Vertonghen to stay at the heart of the defence. in 35 appearance for Feyenoord he scored twice and provided six assists which are decent figures for a full-back.

He would provide stiff competition for Kyle Walker being strong in the tackle and is a good crosser of the ball. He plays under Louis Van Gaal for Holland and plays good through balls, has sound concentration as well as being a good passer of the ball.

A player of his calibre would stop any complacency from Walker and with Tottenham playing more games than their Champions League rivals providing game time for them both shouldn't be a problem. It is essential we learn that the players who play on a Thursday are too tired to play on a Sunday, especially if we are going to now be playing a high energy pressing game.

Having two quality players in each position is becoming even more essential. Keeping everyone happy will be a test for new Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino as there were rumblings at Southampton that he had his favourites and if you weren't one of them you had little chance.

Premier League and Europa League games as well as the two cups should help to ensure that doesn't happen at Spurs.