Tottenham have approached Liverpool about signing left-back Andy Robertson.
The Scotland captain’s contract expires in the summer. Preliminary negotiations have begun and results are expected within the next few days.
Given the 31-year-old’s contract situation and expressed desire to resolve his future, Liverpool want to show their huge respect for the player and his impact at the club since 2017.
Robertson joined Liverpool from Hull City and has been instrumental in the team winning the Premier League and Champions League.
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A Spurs fan was caught off guard while at Sky Sports FC by news that Liverpool’s Robertson could be interested!
However, his opportunities to play have decreased this season, and after the arrival of Milos Kerkes, he only started 4 games in the league.
Robertson, who will captain Scotland at this summer’s World Cup, was wanted by Atletico Madrid in the summer, but the move never materialized.
Liverpool will now consider the possibility of bringing back Kostas Tsimikas from his loan to Roma if a deal for Robertson is finalized.
Why are the Spurs moving to acquire Robertson?
Michael Bridge on Sky Sports News:
Spurs need experience. Robertson is a proven winner. They lost left-back Ben Davies to a serious ankle injury that required surgery.
Adding another player to that position would allow Jed Spence to move into a more natural position on the right wing.
Spurs also need more homegrown players in their squad. They have advanced to the final tournament of the Champions League.
This week they signed 19-year-old left-back Souza from Santos, but he is a development player.
“Why would Robertson leave Liverpool for Spurs?”
Sky Sports’ Jay Boothroyd on fan clubs:
“Spurs have Destiny Udogie and Jed Spence, who plays at left-back and has done very well as a left-back, but is Robertson the answer?
“Andy Robertson is a great player, but if I were in his shoes, would I want to leave Liverpool, which is probably my second choice, leave that environment and go to Tottenham? That’s being objective. I can’t see a world where he would want that.”
What does Robertson say about his future?
Robertson spoke about his future earlier this month when speaking to reporters after Liverpool’s FA Cup win over Barnsley.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that I have given my all for this club over the past eight and a half years and the club has been very good to me,” he said.
“When I played well, they gave me a new contract, and when I played well, I rewarded myself as well.
“I have five months left and I need to figure out whether I have the option to stay or leave.
“First and foremost I need to talk to my family and see what we want. After a bit of a stressful summer, I’ve been trying to just enjoy being a part of it, being a Liverpool player and qualifying for the World Cup. Thankfully, I’ve been able to do that.”
“I need to talk to my family and see what they want to do going forward. So once I’ve made up my mind, I’ll let you know when the time is right.”
Slots: Kerkes is getting stronger
Milos Kerkes is getting stronger, says Arne Slott
If Liverpool were to lose Robertson, Kerkes would remain the club’s clear first-choice left-back, but manager Arne Slott praised the Hungarian’s progress despite a difficult start to the season.
“If you talk about the many contracts we have signed with Milos, you can see that they are progressing not only in terms of team alignment but also in terms of power,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
“And in my opinion, Milos is getting stronger and stronger. He’s playing better and better and better and better. This week was also a moment to give him the game.”
“If you look at the age of our contract players, they’re not only going to get better late in the season, they’re going to get better next season, the season after that, and the season after that. He’s growing, but he’s not the only one.”
Can Liverpool afford to lose Robertson?
Analysis by Sky Sports’ Rich Morgan:
Having made just four Premier League starts this season after signing Milos Kerkes in the summer and becoming Liverpool’s undisputed left-back, it’s understandable that Andy Robertson is looking for a new career challenge, especially with the World Cup just around the corner for the Scotland captain.
However, Liverpool will want to pay huge tribute to the 31-year-old and his impact on the club since 2017, which would leave the league champions short on replacement numbers.
With defenders Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley sidelined with season-ending knee injuries, Robertson’s departure would mean head coach Arne Slott would have to survive the second half of the season with only one confirmed left-back.
Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas (left) is currently on loan at Roma.
The Reds’ only option for this role is Kostas Tsimikas, but the Greek international is currently on a season-long loan at AS Roma.
It is understood the club are considering a potential call-up for the 29-year-old, who has made just 16 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A club and is said to have interest from Nottingham Forest, but he also said on Friday it was unlikely the club would sign a new player in January.
Another option with Kerkes out would be to play Joe Gomez as a temporary left-back. It’s a role the versatile defender played under former manager Jurgen Klopp when Robertson and Tsimikas were sidelined through injury in the 2023-24 season.
