Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Tottenham clause complicates Kyle Walker-Peters transfer, but pundit urges Arsenal to move

Kyle Walker-Peters Southampton May 2022

Southampton contract rebel Kyle Walker-Peters has been championed as a signing for Arsenal and a “real threat going forward” by Kevin Campbell.

The England full-back’s future remains clouded on the south coast. The 25-year-old is under contract until 2025, but Saints are hoping to tie him down to a longer deal.

Walker-Peters has been impressive for Saints since his loan move turned into a permanent move from Spurs. And Ralf Hasenhuttl wants to secure the future of the versatile defender.

However, The Athletic report that Saints have made “no progress” in deal talks with the player. And the same outlet claims Arsenal and Manchester United have the player on their radars.

Arsenal are understood to have been on the lookout for a new left-back. Benfica star Alex Grimaldo has been heavily linked with the Gunners, but their president Rui Costa claimed no bid has been made for the Spaniard.

Whether Mikel Arteta would seriously consider Walker-Peters as a left-back is unclear. The two-cap England defender is primarily a right-back, but he can fill in on the opposite flank and did so on a number of occasions last season.

What does make any potential move complicated though is the fact that the player’s former club Spurs hold an option to re-sign the player.

Buyback clause complicates Walker-Peters deal

The Athletic suggest a £30m buyback deal was struck as part of the permanent transfer in 2020.

Still, former Arsenal forward Kevin Campbell thinks that price tag is cheap for a man of Walker-Peters’ stature.

“I’ve watched him play and he’s done really well at Southampton,” Campebll told Football Insider.

“He got a few opportunities at Spurs but we didn’t really see the best of him. But now he’s playing week-in, week-out – he looks like a really good addition to that Southampton squad.

“He can play left or right, he’s a good attacker and a good passer – he’s a real threat going forward.

“£30m is cheap money for an England international. He’d have to put his Spurs ties aside to come and join Arsenal – but he’s a very good player.”