Tottenham’s next January transfer could be a shock move for a Liverpool legendplaceholder image
Tottenham’s next January transfer could be a shock move for a Liverpool legend | Getty Images
Spurs have been linked with a surprise transfer bid for Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson - but does the move make sense for all parties?
Tottenham Hotspur have already been relatively busy in the January transfer window, sealing the signings of both Conor Gallagher and Brazilian youngster Souza, but according to new reports they could be set to seal a rather more surprising signing in the coming days – Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on Friday that Spurs were “working on a deal” for the experienced full-back, who has fallen behind Milos Kerkez in the Anfield pecking order and is, in any case, set to be available on a free transfer by the end of the season. But would such a deal make sense for Spurs, would it improve their chances of a strong finish to the season, and is it the right move for Liverpool to let Robertson go?
Why Andrew Robertson could strengthen Spurs – but only up to a point
Robertson may have lost his starting spot in the Liverpool side to summer signing Kerkez, but the statistical evidence suggests that there hasn’t been much of a decline in his performances over the past couple of seasons.
Despite limited playing time, the 31-year-old is still winning tackles and forcing turnovers at a similar rate and is winning one-on-one duels more frequently than before. Nor has his attacking output diminished all that much – minute-for-minute, his contribution in terms of chances created is only slightly down since the 2023/24 campaign.
In short, there is probably some life in the old-ish dog yet, although it’s also fair to note that his attacking statistics have declined somewhat since 2022/23, when he generated eight assists in the Premier League. He has the sum total of three top-flight assists since then, although that does owe something to poor finishing on the part of his colleagues, given that he has produced 9.36 expected assists since the summer of 2023. Variance has played its factor in his apparent decline.
Nevertheless, Liverpool clearly feel that his time as a first-rate full-back is coming to a close, and there was doubt over whether they might offer him a contract extension before the end of the season. Negotiations over a move to Spurs suggest that a decision may have been reached in that regard.
In the Spurs squad, he would provide direct competition for Destiny Udogie, a fine left-back but frequently injured and less effective on the overlap than Robertson can be when at his best. Djed Spence, a naturally right-footed player, hasn’t suited Thomas Frank’s system especially well when playing on the left, and this transfer would free the England international up to compete with Pedro Porro down the right, while also providing cover for Udogie’s frequent injuries.
Based on stats from the past year or two, Udogie is probably a better defender than Robertson at this point in their careers even if Robertson deals with one-on-one situations against ball-carrying wingers more effectively – but Udogie has not developed into a threatening creative presence down the flank, and there is every chance that Robertson could be an upgrade in that regard.
Nevertheless, few had a left-back down as being one of Spurs’ key requirements this winter. New signing Souza may only be 19 and a developmental prospect, but he gave the first team a third option in that position already, and the only logical explanation for a bid for Robertson now is a combination of concern over Udogie’s fitness and availability and a desire to use Spence in a different role. Frank typically preferred to use full-backs who can contribute on the outside when at Brentford, and Spence’s more conservative, inverting style of play did not suit that requirement.
There’s no word in The Athletic’s report as to how much Robertson might cost, but with his contract running down and his years advancing steadily, this may well be a relatively budget-friendly opportunity to provide both depth and attacking threat down the left while balancing the team – but if the cost of the deal is substantial when Robertson’s salary is factored in, it could become a slightly more eyebrow-raising move.
Should Liverpool sell Robertson this January?
Perhaps a bigger question is why Liverpool would be content to sell Robertson in the midst of a tough battle for a top four spot – and when the club’s options across the defence are already extremely limited.
Robertson himself had already said in an interview that he was a “player who wants to play,” hinting that he was open to leaving Anfield at the end of the season, but it remains somewhat surprising that Arne Slot would be open to allowing an important depth player to depart at this point in time.
Kerkez, his replacement as starting left-back, has not had an easy time living up to his £50m transfer fee and while his performances have improved after a difficult start to the season, he has yet to settle in to his new role in completely convincing fashion, and hasn’t been as effective going forward as he had been at Bournemouth last season, when he was perhaps given more license to carry the ball forward himself and get into more advanced areas.
Liverpool do now have the option of utilising Kostas Tsimikas as a back-up again with his loan spell at AS Roma expected to be cut short, but there is continued speculation that the Greek full-back would be farmed out to another team on loan with an eye to a permanent sale in the summer – and Slot has also suggested that he doesn’t expect fresh reinforcements before the transfer deadline on 2 February.
“If there's an opportunity in the market or we think we can strengthen, this club will try to do so,” Slot said during his Friday press conference ahead of the club’s game against Bournemouth on Saturday. “But at this moment in time I expect it to stay mainly the same."
If Robertson does leave without replacement, it leaves Liverpool looking rather short-handed at the back as they battle both for a place in the top four and for the Champions League. Kerkez may well continue to improve and has certainly demonstrated that he can play at a very high level, but can scarcely be expected to carry the position for the length of the season with so many games yet to play.
Hanging on to Robertson until his contract expired seemed like the logical move, even if he was likely to leave on a free transfer. A sale to Spurs would allow the club to make some money from his departure, but it’s unlikely to move the financial needle significantly for a team that currently have the highest income of any Premier League side.
This is a curious move from Liverpool’s part and a somewhat unusual one from Spurs, too, even if it makes more sense from Robertson’s perspective given that it offers him a fresh chance at earning first-team football at a new club. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds if the deal gets over the line before the deadline.
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