Former Tottenham Hotspur right-back Alan Hutton has admitted that he is surprised that the north London club may look to sell Kyle Walker-Peters in the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old has barely featured for Spurs this season, starting just three times in the Premier League the last of which was way back in August (Transfermarkt).
As a result the full-back has been linked with a move away with Crystal Palace thought to be interested in taking him on loan. However, the Telegraph have reported that Tottenham would prefer to sell the 11-time England under-21 international and could hold out for a permanent deal.
When asked if he is surprised that Spurs are reportedly looking to sell Walker-Peters, Hutton told Football Insider: “I am a little bit, to be honest. Obviously he’s come through the ranks, he’s so young, and he obviously hasn’t had a lot of minutes just a few Champions League games, Carabao Cups games.
“So me personally if I was in charge, I’d want him to go out on loan and experience playing week-in-week-out. Whether that be Crystal Palace or one of the other teams interested. Let him get minutes under his belt, then see, as he could turn out to be an absolute world-beater.
“But he’s not been quite given the chance, so why not have him go out loan, let him get the experience and if you then don’t see him being a fit for Tottenham, then move him on, say in the summer.
“A loan gives you an option to have a look at him playing regularly, so I think for Spurs to want to sell him, is a little bit harsh, a little bit hasty.”
Hutton is right here, it would surely make more sense for Spurs to loan Walker-Peters out for a period to see if he is actually capable of becoming a Premier League standard right-back.
He is still only 22-years-old and therefore has time to improve, he has certainly not yet hit his peak. Added to that, he has barely had the opportunity to showcase his talents, making just 12 Premier League appearances so far in his career (Transfermarkt).
As Hutton says, if they loan him out then he will finally get an opportunity to play on a weekly basis. If it turns out that he is good enough, then Spurs will be able to take him back at the end of the temporary deal and move him into the first team. If he isn’t, that is then when they should consider moving him on permanently.
Spurs fans, would you be open to selling Kyle Walker-Peters this month? Or do you think he should just be loaned out for now? Let us know in the comments below…
