Dejan Kulusevski has ‘frozen out’ two Tottenham big names – ex-Spurs star
Alan Hutton has insisted the right-wing berth at Tottenham is Dejan Kulusevski’s “place to lose” after his “immense” start to life at the club.
The former Spurs defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 21-year-old has been “everything that Antonio Conte wants in a player” since arriving in January.
Kulusevski has already notched two goals and an assist in five Premier League games since joining on an 18-month loan deal during the winter window.
The Sweden international has supplanted Lucas Moura in the starting lineup.
The Brazillian has been sidelined with a dead leg in recent weeks.
As quoted by football.london (4 March), Conte confirmed Moura is “available” to be selected for tonight’s (7 March) clash against Everton.
However, Hutton claimed it is down to the 29-year-old and fellow winger Steven Bergwijn to “fight for that spot” if they get the nod from the bench.
“He’s come in and frozen the competition out already,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“It’s Kulusevski’s place to lose, for sure.
“The form he’s showing at the moment is immense. He’s creating, he’s scoring, he’s working hard for the team – that’s everything that Antonio Conte wants in a player.
“It’s up to Moura and Bergwijn to show what they can do to force their way back into the side. But at a club like Spurs, you always need that healthy competition for places.
“It’s up to them to fight for that spot when they come off the bench.”
Tottenham have an obligation to buy Kulusevski, who has made seven appearances for the club in total, at the end of the loan period if certain conditions are met.
Moura and Bergwijn have contributed just four combined Premier League goals across 37 total appearances.
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