What a disappointing season Kieran Trippier’s having. The World Cup made him a hero to many, but since he’s returned to Spurs, he looked a shadow of the player he was in the summer.

That doesn’t mean he should be sold, though.

Last season was gruelling for all international players who finished their domestic season and headed to Russia. Those players who made it to the latter stages only had a few weeks rest, if that, before returning to pre-season training, and it seems the lack of rest has had its effect on Tripper.

He’s played 23 times in the Premier League this season but has only looked convincing in a handful of those, and it’s led to a report in the Sun that says Spurs are ready to offload him to Everton as they hunt down Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

As a Tottenham fan, he might have frustrated you this season, but this would be the wrong decision.

He’s 28-years-old, in the peak of his career and has impressed emphatically since joining from Burnley in 2015. Yes, he’s had a poor season, but that doesn’t mean the club should give up on him and get rid. He’s still got bags more to give in a variety of tactical formations and, considering they only bought him for around £3.5m, they don’t have much to lose by giving him another season.

That doesn’t mean pull out of the race for Wan-Bissaka, because he’s arguably the best right-back in the league at the moment, but why not have both at the club to fight for the starting spot? It could even push Trippier back to his previous level knowing he has a youngster on his tail.

Think of the battle he and Kyle Walker had all those years ago. Oddly enough, the arrival of Wan-Bissaka and an improvement in Trippier could go some way into replacing the Manchester City man at last.

It would also decrease the pressure faced by the current Palace full-back in the event of a move. Having both players at the club doesn’t mean Wan-Bissaka would need to produce every single week. If Trippier was sold, he’d be judged more harshly than if he was brought through as an understudy, battling for his place.

Trippier, who is valued at £31.5 million (by Transfermarkt), can perform at the highest level still, but he probably needs to get this season out of the way and start afresh next term. If Spurs have their way they’ll be fighting for all four trophies next season, so they’ll need him and whoever Spurs sign in the summer to create the squad depth to deal with the fixture pile-up.

Spurs fans, what do you think Spurs should do with Kieran Trippier? Join the discussion by commenting below.