Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on Arsenal defender Calum Chambers.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Earlier this week, the Daily Mail reported that Tottenham Hotspur are keen on Arsenal defender Calum Chambers in what would be a shock transfer.
Chambers, 22, is currently out on loan at Premier League rivals Middlesbrough, and he has turned in some impressive performances in one of the division’s best defences.
When the defender returns to the Emirates Stadium though, he will find his path to the first team blocked by the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, Gabriel Paulisa and the returning Per Mertesacker.
A permanent exit for the 2014 signing from Southampton isn’t beyond all realms of possibility, and it’s claimed that North London rivals Tottenham are monitoring his situation ahead of what would be an historic move.
Whilst players like Sol Campbell, Rohan Ricketts, David Bentley Emmanuel Adebayor and William Gallas have been with both club, their deals never required negotiations between the two clubs – they either moved as free agents or via other clubs.
In Chambers’ case though, it would require the two fierce enemies to sit down together and thrash out what looks to be an unlikely deal, whilst it would also require Chambers to turn his back on Arsenal and join their bitter rivals instead.
Such a move wouldn’t generate Sol Campbell-levels of vitriol between the two clubs, but deciding to leave Arsenal for Tottenham is still something of a betrayal in the red half of North London, with few players in recent history making the direct crossing of the divide between the two clubs.
Middlesbrough’s Calum Chambers in action with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero
It could all be worth it for Chambers and Tottenham though. The defender made his Premier League debut at Southampton under now-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, and he even told the Daily Echo in 2014 that he ‘owed everything’ to the Argentinian in 2014.
A classy, ball-playing centre back who has toughened up at Middlesbrough in the midst of a relegation battle, Chambers could be ideal for the right-sided centre back role in Pochettino’s 3-4-2-1 system, whilst he has the ideal profile for the Spurs boss; young, talented, English and with room to develop.
Securing a deal will be tough given the animosity between the two clubs, but Chambers would be better off at Tottenham than Arsenal right now given competition for places and respective needs – and he should turn his back on the Gunners in favour of a Pochettino reunion should he get the chance this summer.
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