£30m and £33m exits were disastrous for Tottenham but 2017 is different

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Tottenham can afford to drag out Kyle Walker’s future to the transfer window.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is at it again, playing games in the transfer market at Manchester City’s expense to try and raise Kyle Walker’s price tag.

The Mirror report he has hiked the fee up from £40 million to £60 million, in light of the inflated transfer market.

The saga could drag on right until the final day of the transfer window, and in the past that has been just how the Spurs chairman has liked to do business.

Tottenham’s Kyle Walker prepares to take a throw in

This has been to the club’s detriment in the past, as they have been left scrambling to sign replacements.

In 2008 they sold Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United at the deadline for £30 million, and got just Fraizer Campbell on loan in his place.

In 2012 Luka Modric left for Real Madrid for £33 million, far more than they could have got earlier in the summer, but Spurs were left with little time to sign new players.

Tottenham’s Luka Modric (L) and AC Milan’s Alexandre Pato

Gareth Bale departed a year later one day before the transfer window closed for a world record £86 million. Tottenham had already done much of their business in advance, but the sale affected the team substantially.

In each case the ongoing transfer saga affected the team on the pitch, and in 2012 and 2013 cost them crucial early points which cost them Champions League qualification at the end of the season.

Spurs should be confident 2017 is different, with Kyle Walker’s replacement already at the club in Kieran Trippier. Even Tripper’s replacement is at the ready, England under-20 World Cup ace Kyle Walker-Peters.

Tottenham are doing so well on the pitch that if Walker leaves, the squad will feel it is his loss, rather than theirs.

Levy can afford to negotiate and turn the screw on City and any other interested suitors, and be confident it won’t have a negative impact on the team.

Tottenham’s Kyle Walker in action