Luke McGee signs for Portsmouth:

Spurs announced this morning the departure of 21 year old goalkeeper Luke McGee to league one side Portsmouth on a permanent deal. The Spurs supporting, academy graduate joins Pompey on a three year contract, the talented Edgware born goalkeeper played for Pochettino’s side during the 2015 Audi cup. A regular in the development squad over the last few seasons, McGee’s breakthrough season came most recently with a loan move to Peterborough where he excelled at the league one club winning their player of the year prize. McGee who is now 21 years of age is at an important stage in his career, were he to have stayed with us he would have probably only been limited to under 23 matches, and with Spurs linked with signing goalkeeper Pau Lopez, McGee’s chances of making the first team squad would have been extremely slim. An excellent shot stopper and a top professional I have no doubts that McGee will be playing Championship football in the near future, he’s definitely got premier league potential. I wish Luke the very best of luck at his new club and in his development as a footballer.

Kieran Trippier: The model professional

With the announcement of Kieran Trippier’s new five year contract expected to be made imminently, the rumoured departure of Kyle Walker leaves Trippier with the prospect of being first choice right back come the start of next season. Whilst the rumours of Kyle Walker’s expected summer departure to Manchester city continue, ironically it could be the former Man city man Kieran Trippier who made his England debut only last month, who would take over the star mans position. No one can underestimate Kyle Walker’s huge contribution to our side over the past couple of seasons, the Yorkshireman has developed under Pochettino’s guidance, into one of Europe’s finest right backs. With his Physical stature and frighteningly quick pace, Walker has mastered both his defensive and attacking duties in a side where the full backs are such an integral part of Pochettino’s footballing philosophy. The 27 year old who was signed for a combined fee of £9 million along with Kyle Naughton from Sheffield United back in July of 2009, has most recently enjoyed the finest season of his career. The defensive and attacking excellence of the England international along with his consistencey, made him one of Spurs’ best players during their acclaimed 2016/17 campaign. Whilst this is not an article on Kyle Walker, it shows just how precious a player he is for Spurs and if media reports are anything to go by, then his transfer to Manchester City would be a huge loss to the Lillywhites. Whilst it is still perfectly possible that Walker could remain a Spurs player come the start of the season, the man who would take over his duties were he to leave is 26 year old Kieran Trippier.

Signed by Pochettino from Burnley for a reported fee of £3.5 million back in June of 2015, Trippier has played second fiddle to Walker for the entirety of his time at Spurs. Nevertheless the Bury born full back has made a real influence to our side in the two seasons he has been in north London, whilst featuring in the majority of cup games he has also been given a good run in the premier league. He doesn’t posses the same defensive qualities of Walker nor does he have the pace, but he makes up for it in his attacking play. The former Burnley mans greatest attribute is his pin point crossing, in fact his arguably the best crosser of a ball in the league, Trippier registered five assists from just 12 league games last season, producing more assists than any other defender in the league. Trippier’s crossing ability and attacking play make him a fine premier league right back, but the question is can he fill the massive void of Walker leaving? Praised as a model professional for his exemplary work ethic both on and off the field, Trippier’s patience and hard work more then warrants his place in the first team. He may not have a panache about his game like Walker does, but few could have predicted Walker’s extraordinary development under Pochettino and I thoroughly believe that Pochettino can also improve Trippier into one of the leagues finest right backs just like he done with Walker.

Not forgetting about fantastic academy prospect Kyle Walker-Peters, Trippier would have great competition from the 20 year old starlet. Already an England international Trippier has already proved himself at Spurs, whilst I sincerely hope Walker is still a Spurs player come the end of the transfer window, I have no doubts about Trippier seizing his chance just as he did at the end of last season. An interesting few months is ahead. COYS