By Noel Whelan

1st Feb, 2020 | 8:00pm

Exclusive: Ex-striker slaughters Tottenham for January transfer 'Mistake'

Noel Whelan has blasted Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to let Kyle Walker-Peter go out on loan to Premier League rivals Southampton. 

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds United striker suggested that Spurs have left themselves understaffed in a key area of the pitch.

The 22-year-old right-back joined up with the Saints earlier this week, leaving Spurs with just Serge Aurier as a conventional senior option in that position.

And Whelan is thoroughly unimpressed with the move.

When asked whether Spurs were adequately equipped at right-back, he told Football Insider: “You can only use what you’ve got, and that’s all they’ve got.

“They allowed to let Walker-Peters go, which I think was a mistake because he’s a cracking young player and he’s also backup to what you’ve got. He’s got some Premier League experience.

“You’re leaving yourself very, very short and you’re going to end up putting round pegs in square holes if Aurier does get injured.

“That’s not really what you’d expect from a big club – you’d expect them to have strength in depth in the right areas throughout the system. You’ve got to hope now that Aurier stays fit and doesn’t get injured.”

Walker-Peters is a product of the Spurs academy system, and made his debut for the club during the 2017/18 campaign. He has made 24 senior appearances for the team up until this point. 

Aurier has been the preferred option at right-back so far this term, and hasn’t missed a Premier League match since the 3-0 defeat to Brighton at the beginning of October. 

In other Tottenham news, Spurs hold talks about terminating contract of £10m-valued ace.