Tottenham have made an approach to sign Andrew Robertson from Liverpool. The Premier League champions are open to allowing the long-serving left-back to leave, with only five months remaining on his contract.
Liverpool respect Robertson’s wish to sort his long-term future as soon as possible. There is a desire on all sides to get a deal done quickly as Thomas Frank wrestles with major availability issues at Spurs.
The loss of Ben Davies to a season-ending ankle fracture has robbed his team of leadership and an experienced option at left-back, where Djed Spence has recently been playing.
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Another attraction for Spurs is that Robertson is a proven winner. Since the Scotland international joined Liverpool from Hull in 2017 he has secured trophies including two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
Destiny Udogie is Spurs’s only Premier League-proven alternative to Spence at left-back, although the club on Thursday signed the 19-year-old Brazilian Souza from Santos.
When Frank brought in Conor Gallagher this month he talked up the midfielder’s leadership qualities and the head coach feels Robertson would offer more help in that regard.
Robertson was of interest to Atlético Madrid in the summer but a move did not materialise. The 31-year-old is eager to maximise his playing time before the World Cup, where he will captain Scotland. At Liverpool he has faced competition from Milos Kerkez after being an almost ever-present during last season’s title win.
If Robertson departs, he will be leave a side who have drawn their past four Premier League games but Arne Slot says he has taken enjoyment from a season far more difficult than his first.
Liverpool, who are at Bournemouth on Saturday, have lost six league matches, leaving them fourth, 14 points behind the leaders, Arsenal. Last season they lost only four times. Problems have included injuries and Slot’s attempt to integrate four signings.
“I do enjoy it – but I do enjoy winning,” Slot said. “Winning is the one you enjoy most. The second thing is making players better. The third thing and the nice part of the job is being creative and getting a gameplan with the players you have available and make it as difficult as you can for the opposition … Maybe you enjoy winning a little bit more when you have been losing. We have felt the pain and hurt of losing so we are enjoying it.”
