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Tottenham Hotspur defender Kieran Trippier has revealed that he hopes to remain in the Premier League even if he leaves the club, per the London Evening Standard.
What’s the word?
The Standard report that Spurs are willing to allow the England international to leave the club after a disappointing season in north London.
The report claims that Serie A club Napoli have tabled a bid worth £23m for the defender, who started Spurs’ Champions League final defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.
He has confirmed that he will discuss his future with manager Mauricio Pochettino but he does not seem enamoured by the prospect of a move to Italy.
He said: “I want to stay in England, but what can you do?
“I’ll see what happens, and what the club wants, most importantly.
"I give everything for this club in training sessions, games. I don’t know [if I will be at Spurs next season]. I’ll go home now, spend time with my family and just recover after a long, difficult season.
“Everybody’s got a decision to make. Obviously, this club has been very good for me over the last few years, but I’ll enjoy my summer, come back in pre-season and that’s when I’ll sit down with the manager and have a talk about my future. I see a lot of speculation about me not being here.”
Trippier was not included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming Nations League finals.
Refresh your career
Trippier should take a leap of faith.
It is clear that he could depart Spurs this summer and he should jump at the opportunity to move to Italy.
A different league and a different style could see him resuscitate a career that is in serious danger of stalling in north London.
Staying in the Premier League, after all, is something of an obvious move but where exactly would he go?
The majority of top clubs have a starting right-back – Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea particularly – while Manchester United would surely want better and Spurs are never going to do business with Arsenal.
The opportunity to switch to a club that still features in European competition, then, and could challenge in the higher reaches of their league should be attractive for Trippier.
He should grab it with both hands.