Atlético Madrid are closing in on a £25m deal for Tottenham Hotspur and England full-back Kieran Trippier.
The 28-year-old has been a first-team regular for Tottenham ever since the sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City in 2017, but struggled for form last season. He lost his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad and was made available for sale by Tottenham this summer.
Juventus and Napoli both registered an initial interest in the player, but Atlético have stolen a march on their rivals over the past few days and are now best placed to sign him.
Trippier still has three years remaining on the contract extension he signed in 2017, although The Independent understands Spurs are poised to accept a fee that could rise to £25m through performance-related bonuses.
Tottenham fly to Singapore on Wednesday for their pre-season International Champions Cup campaign and it is likely Trippier will be excused from the trip, given the increasing optimism that a deal will be completed this week.
It remains to be seen whether Mauricio Pochettino will attempt to replace Trippier this transfer window. He is well stocked at right-back with Serge Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters, while highly rated 21-year-old defender Juan Foyth can deputise in the position.
1/23 Champions League final
REUTERS
2/23 Hugo Lloris – 7 (out of 10)
AFP/Getty Images
3/23 Kieran Trippier – 5
REUTERS
4/23 Toby Alderweireld – 6
REUTERS
5/23 Jan Vertonghen – 6
EPA
6/23 Danny Rose – 6
Getty Images
7/23 Harry Winks – 7
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
8/23 Moussa Sissoko – 5
Getty Images
9/23 Heung-min Son – 6
REUTERS
10/23 Christian Eriksen – 6
AFP/Getty Images
11/23 Dele Alli – 5
AP
12/23 Harry Kane – 5
Getty Images
13/23 Alisson – 7
REUTERS
14/23 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
Getty Images
15/23 Joel Matip – 6
AFP/Getty Images
16/23 Virgil van Dijk – 7
PA
17/23 Andrew Robertson – 7
Getty Images
18/23 Fabinho – 7
Getty Images
19/23 Georginio Wijnaldum – 6
EPA
20/23 Jordan Henderson – 7
REUTERS
21/23 Mohamed Salah – 8
REUTERS
22/23 Roberto Firmino – 6
AP
23/23 Sadio Mane – 7
REUTERS
1/23 Champions League final
REUTERS
2/23 Hugo Lloris – 7 (out of 10)
AFP/Getty Images
3/23 Kieran Trippier – 5
REUTERS
4/23 Toby Alderweireld – 6
REUTERS
5/23 Jan Vertonghen – 6
EPA
6/23 Danny Rose – 6
Getty Images
7/23 Harry Winks – 7
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
8/23 Moussa Sissoko – 5
Getty Images
9/23 Heung-min Son – 6
REUTERS
10/23 Christian Eriksen – 6
AFP/Getty Images
11/23 Dele Alli – 5
AP
12/23 Harry Kane – 5
Getty Images
13/23 Alisson – 7
REUTERS
14/23 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
Getty Images
15/23 Joel Matip – 6
AFP/Getty Images
16/23 Virgil van Dijk – 7
PA
17/23 Andrew Robertson – 7
Getty Images
18/23 Fabinho – 7
Getty Images
19/23 Georginio Wijnaldum – 6
EPA
20/23 Jordan Henderson – 7
REUTERS
21/23 Mohamed Salah – 8
REUTERS
22/23 Roberto Firmino – 6
AP
23/23 Sadio Mane – 7
REUTERS
Spurs are in the midst of a squad overhaul, having ended their long wait for a signing by completing the transfers of Jack Clarke, from Leeds United, and Tanguy Ndombele, from Lyon.
The club will likely have to sell in order to recruit further, with question marks hanging over the futures of Toby Alderwiereld, Danny Rose and Christian Eriksen.
Manchester United are poised to resurrect their interest in Eriksen if Paul Pogba eventually leaves the club this summer.
Eriksen – whose contract with Tottenham runs out next year – would serve as an almost perfect alternative, and arguably an upgrade given their comparative productivity over the last few years.
Eriksen and his camp would be put off by the fact United are not in the Champions League, but The Independent understands the Old Trafford club feel they may be able to leverage the situation if there is no movement – and no new contract – before the window ends.
