Spurs loanee Steven Caulker has been impressing at Swansea City this season, will his long-term future be at White Hart Lane?
Young centre-back Steven Caulker has been such a prominent part of Swansea’s rise up the Premier League table, helping the side keep three clean sheets in their last three games.
So with Tottenham linked with £15 million rated defender Jan Vertonghen, supporters should really be asking if it is money they really need to spend.
Caulker has been in fine form at Swansea, starting 17 league games this season, including every single Premier League match for the club in 2012.
His performances have been so impressive at the heart of the Swans defence that club captain Garry Monk has been unable to secure a starting spot in the side.
It would surely be a mistake for Tottenham not to give Caulker a proper first team chance next season and allow him to spend the season on the bench.
If he is capable of playing this well for Swansea, there is no reason why he cannot repeat the form for the club who pay his wages and his development, which saw him called into the England under-21s last month, must continue through regular first team football.
West London born Caulker, 20, is a graduate of Tottenham’s youth academy, spending spent time on loan at Yeovil and Bristol City, and is yet to make a first team appearance for Spurs.
Tottenham do indeed have a riddle to solve at centre-back ahead of next season, with both Ledley King and William Gallas facing uncertain futures, although one may remain.
The club will likely allow Gallas to leave, and King may only return on a pay-as-you-play contract.
If he is treated properly, Caulker has every chance of being King’s long-term successor. Why spend millions and millions when the solution is staring you right in the face?
Caulker has expressed excitement at the prospect of returning to Tottenham next season and playing Champions League football – which Spurs still have to earn – but he has also stated that he does not want to return to the club to sit on the bench, after getting a regular taste of Premier League football this season.
So much may depend on Spurs’ summer spending, but even without one of Gallas and King, the club have Younes Kaboul, Michael Dawson and young Brazilian Bruno Uvini, while Sebastien Bassong will be allowed to leave.
Spurs may still go in for Vertonghen, also wanted by Arsenal and Newcastle, and he too could be a superb defender for the club over the next few years, but they will have to be careful not to alienate Caulker too.
If the club do make big moves this summer, it may be best all round that Caulker is allowed on loan again, and brought back into the fold when Ledley King finally can go on no more.
How long can King continue? Is Caulker his long-term replacement?
image: © joncandy
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