Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Kyle Walker-Peters and Dennis Cirkin and choosing which one would be the better signing is a close call, but one of them just edges it.
Tottenham are playing the long game in the summer transfer window. It may have been open for the best part of the month, but the only players Spurs have signed are Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, who were already on loan at the club last season.
However, this could soon change, as there is evidence that Tottenham are working towards bringing new players to Hotspur Way. Most notably, Spurs have had a bid rejected for Mohammed Kudus. The West Ham winger is likely to be available for a price significantly below his £85m release clause, so there is belief that a deal will eventually be agreed.
Supporters have mixed feelings about the possibility of Kudus joining, but his rumoured move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is certainly more popular than the possible return of a former Spurs full-back.
Tottenham are one of a few clubs interested in Kyle Walker-Peters. He is not the only defender to be linked with a return to North London, as Spurs are expected to make an offer for Dennis Cirkin. Both players have their pros and cons, but which would be the better signing?
Comparing Tottenham transfer targets Kyle Walker-Peters and Dennis Cirkin
Re-signing an old player who never really made it as a Lilywhite may not cause much excitement, but there is a good reason for it. Spurs need more locally trained and homegrown players and both Walker-Peters and Cirkin are capable players.
Walker-Peters made 33 Premier League appearances last season. This could actually be viewed as something negative, considering he played in one of the worst teams in English top-flight history. However, he has plenty of Premier League experience, as well as having played in the Champions League during his previous spell at Tottenham.
Cirkin has less to boast about, as he has never made a Premier League appearance. He spent his first season at Sunderland in League One and has played three consecutive campaigns in the Championship. The 23-year-old made 39 appearances last season, including the play-offs, and registered three goals and two assists.
Sunderland kept 11 clean sheets when Cirkin was on the pitch last season, while Southampton only managed two when Walker-Peters played. Cirkin averaged 2.5 tackles per game, 1.2 more than Walker-Peters, but the Southampton man made 1.2 more ball recoveries on average per game.
However, it is difficult to make a decision based on last season’s performances. Walker-Peters played for a poor team in a top league, while Cirkin represented a strong team in the second tier. The key to deciding which player Spurs should sign is by looking to the future and identifying which would be better for a three-year project under Thomas Frank.
Tottenham should sign Dennis Cirkin
If Tottenham were signing one of their ex-players as a first-team defender, Walker-Peters may be the better pick. He has proven himself at a higher level, while Cirkin remains untested in the Premier League.
However, the incoming player is going to be Pedro Porro or Destiny Udogie’s understudy. Therefore, Cirkin is the better option because he has more years to develop into a more complete player. He is five years younger than Walker-Peters and has just played the best season of his career. Walker-Peters, on the other hand, will not have many years to offer.
The 28-year-old would be available as a free agent, but Cirkin is worth spending some money on because Spurs are getting a player who can learn and grow as a player. The ceiling of his abilities remains unseen and he could become far more than just a homegrown bench warmer.
Whichever full-back Tottenham decide to bring in will have their own benefits, but Cirkin is more exciting and is more in line with the club’s recent signings.
READ MORE – Why Thomas Frank could be the reason behind Tottenham’s lack of transfer urgency
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