Kyle walks: What now for Tottenham at right-back?
Kyle Walker got his wish.
The 27-year-old wanted a change of pace, and the England international got exactly that, making a £50-million move to Manchester City on a five-year deal Friday.
Related: Walker joins Manchester City from Tottenham for reported £50M fee
While Tottenham will be elated to put a fee equal to David Luiz's world-record amount for a defender in the bank, the north London lot is short a right-back, and without a single first-team signing to date, Daniel Levy and Co. would be wise to shop for reinforcements.
Forget the fact that Spurs have strengthened a title rival, Walker has been one of the club's most consistent players, and despite relying on pace whilst nearing an age where speed becomes a fleeting friend, Tottenham will be hard-pressed to repeat last season's second-place finish without a reputable first-choice right-back
With that in mind, here's a look at three options Tottenham could consider:
Kieran Trippier
When news surfaced Friday that Walker had cemented a long-rumoured Lancashire switch, Spurs fans were quick to remind each other that Walker's understudy, Kieran Trippier, had as many assists as his fellow England international in 1,572 fewer minutes.
If assists are the metric by which a full-back is measured then Graeme Le Saux is the second-best defender of the Premier League era. Spoiler alert: he's not.
That's not to say that Trippier isn't deserving of the opportunity, especially after a string of performances in Walker's stead toward the end of the campaign chucked the former Burnley stud into the spotlight. Trippier, 26, doubled down on that form with a stellar display in his England debut against France, and suddenly, the Bury-born Manchester City academy product was first-choice material. Not to take anything away from Trippier, but realistic title ambitions paired with competition on three other fronts merits more than just the crimson-topped defender.
Ricardo Pereira
Of all the speculation linking Spurs with a maiden summer signing, few names have been as routinely mentioned as Ricardo Pereira.
If Mauricio Pochettino fancies versatility and the ability to acclimate tactically, Pereira offers precisely that, and at 23 years old, the sky's the limit for the twice-capped Portuguese international.
Last season in his second campaign on loan at Nice from parent club Porto, Pereira appeared in 24 matches, nine as a right-back and another trio on the left side as teenage talent Malang Sarr's season tailed off. No worries for Pereira, who also plied his trade on the right side of the midfield, and with pace and a penchant for ball control, the Vitoria Guimaraes academy grad appears to be a perfect fit for Pochettino's intense demands. Porto has reportedly demanded £22 million for Pereira. Spurs would be mad to do anything but cut the Portuguese side a cheque.
Mattia De Sciglio
Once considered the "Next Maldini" by AC Milan supporters only to fizzle out over the last two campaigns, Mattia De Sciglio is a player in need of a change of setting.
With the addition of Andrea Conti from Atalanta, De Sciglio's Milan tenure is all but done after 15 years at the club, and at 24 years old, the 31-time capped Italy international still has some good days ahead of him.
From the looks of it, Spurs will have to beat Juventus to the right-back, with the Old Lady monitoring De Sciglio as a result of losing Dani Alves to Paris Saint-Germain. In 25 Serie A appearances last season, De Sciglio - who was forced to play out of position at left-back because of a dearth of options in Vincenzo Montella's squad prior to its summer shopping bonanza - combined a knack for incisive crosses with a keen eye for a pass, two things Harry Kane feeds off.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)