Tottenham could face stiff competition to sign Liverpool star Andy Robertson in the summer.
It is an open secret that Tottenham Hotspur were keen on signing Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson in the winter transfer window.
Andy Robertson entered the final six months of his contract at Anfield in January, a situation Tottenham wanted to take advantage of. They were working to bring the left-back to north London, and the player was also open to joining Thomas Frank’s side.
The 31-year-old has fallen down the pecking order this season following Milos Kerkez’s arrival from Bournemouth last summer. Of his 14 Premier League appearances this season, only four of those have been starts, leaving his Liverpool future in the balance. In need of regular minutes ahead of the World Cup, Robertson was ready to leave Anfield and join Spurs, who were willing to pay just £3 million for his services.
However, Liverpool pulled the plug on a deal. This is because the Reds were unable to cover Robertson’s absence by recalling Kostas Tsimikas from AS Roma loan early. That, coupled with injuries to Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, left them with no other alternative but to reconsider their stance on the Scotland skipper. And now further developments have emerged over Robertson’s future at Anfield.
Liverpool planning to give Andy Robertson a new deal
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are contemplating keeping Robertson beyond this season by handing him a new contract. They are planning to table a one or two-year deal to keep him at Anfield, valuing the Scot’s experience and leadership amid a limited role under Arne Slot.
Talk of the Merseysiders handing him a new deal hasn’t deterred Robertson’s suitors. Tottenham will be right there for his signature, while there has been a long-standing interest from the left-back’s childhood favourites, Celtic, too. Other Premier League sides, including Newcastle United and Aston Villa, are also keeping tabs on the situation, the report adds.
Tottenham actually had plans to sign Robertson on a free transfer from Liverpool this summer, but they brought that plan forward to strengthen Thomas Frank’s squad immediately. It was a smart decision from the club’s key decision-makers, as a player of Robertson’s winning mentality, pedigree, experience and leadership skills could have made an immediate difference to a Spurs squad beset by injuries and not performing well.
But, a couple of factors forced Liverpool to change their stance and a move eventually did not happen. Truth be told, the Robertson deal felt like now or never for Tottenham. With him staying, it has given Liverpool a chance to reassess Robertson’s situation and understand his true value, both on the pitch and off it. Even if he wishes to end his trophy-laden career in Merseyside in the summer, Celtic have popped up out of nowhere and will try to bring back a local hero to compete domestically and in Europe next season.
Only time will tell how Robertson’s future will shape up. Tottenham may yet revisit their interest, but Liverpool’s message is clear.