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5 right-backs who could replace Kieran Trippier at Tottenham

Buying young, hungry players and fitting them into a system is typical of Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer strategy, so you'd expect Mauricio Pochettino to be eyeing several of Europe's up-and-coming right-backs to replace Kieran Trippier in north London this summer.

Trippier was a dead-ball specialist and was appreciated for his attacking runs, but lost his way in north London to the point that Spurs will have been happy to recoup £20m for his services.

Here are five players we think could be fine replacements...

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Denzel Dumfries - PSV Eindhoven

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - JULY 17: Denzel Dumfries of PSV Eindhoven gestures during the pre-season friendly match between PSV Eindhoven and WfL Wolfsburg at Philips Stadion on July 17, 2019 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Denzel Dumfries of PSV Eindhoven (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

After scoring four goals and providing six assists for PSV in last season’s Eredivisie, Dumfries is firmly on the radars of Premier League clubs. Considering his £25 million valuation, the 23-year-old could be a worthwhile investment for any top team considering the inflation in the transfer market.

The Holland international possesses frightening pace, has the strength to win aerial duels and dribbles the ball well. He's still a little raw defensively, and his crossing needs some work, but performances so far suggest a fine right-back in the making.

Rotterdam-born Dumfries is now a regular for his national team as part of Ronald Koeman’s back five, and represented the Oranje on Nations League duty this summer as they beat England and lost to Portugal in the final.

Youcef Atal - Nice

Guinea's Mohamed Yattara and Algeria's Youcef Atal run for the ball during the African Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Guinea and Algeria in 30 June stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Guinea's Mohamed Yattara and Algeria's Youcef Atal run for the ball during the African Cup of Nations. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

The Algerian took Ligue 1 by storm in his debut season at Nice, netting six times from right-back. He also featured four times for Algeria en route to the Africa Cup of Nations final, until a fractured collarbone forced him off after 31 minutes of the semi-final against Nigeria.

Atal's outstanding dribbling ability makes him an excellent option for Pochettino, who values attacking full-backs. The difficulty lies in the way Spurs set up tactically, however. Last season a 4-2-3-1 formation was regularly used, which meant a flat back four.

The 23-year-old tackles well and can intercept play with his speed, but Pochettino would have to take a gamble on a player who only moved to Europe from domestic football last summer.

Nikola Milenkovic - Fiorentina

Fiorentina's Nikola Milenkovic, left, jumps for the ball with AC Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiorentina at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Fiorentina's Nikola Milenkovic, left, jumps for the ball. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Fiorentina endured a near-disastrous campaign in 2018/19, finishing three points clear of the relegation zone. That could tempt versatile defender Milenkovic away from Florence this summer in search of Champions League football.

The 21-year-old – reportedly a target for Manchester United – is an excellent reader of the game, and a calming presence in possession. Former manager Stefano Pioli used him as both a right-back and centre-back last season, and his attributes make him a good fit for either position.

Tottenham could gett a player more suited to defending rather than bombing forward, but Milenlovic is hot property and could also offer then a solution to their Toby Alderweireld problem.

Ricardo Pereira - Leicester

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy, left,  celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with teammate Domingos Ricardo Pereira, during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester and Brighton,  at the King Power Stadium, in Leicester, England, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Leicester City's Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring with teammate Domingos Ricardo Pereira (Nigel French/PA via AP)

Leicester have a squad capable of mounting a top-six challenge in 2019/20, and Brendan Rodgers rightfully sees his Portuguese speedster as an essential part of that. The Foxes simply don't sell unless they have to, making this a particularly difficult one for Spurs.

Ricardo is excellent going forward – Claude Puel played him as a right-winger for the early parts of last season – and at the other end, only three players in the Premier League averaged more tackles per game in 2018/19.

Spurs may find it tought to afford him after splashing out £55m on Tanguy Ndombele earlier this window, but Leicester's marauding right-back would suit them perfectly.

Juan Foyth - Tottenham

El argentino Juan Foyth (centro) festeja tras marcar el gol de Tottenham en la victoria 1-0 ante Crystal Palace en el estadio Selhurst Park de Londres, el sábado 10 de noviembre de 2018. (John Walton/PA via AP)
Juan Foyth celebrates a victory at Selhurst Park. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Nope, not a namesake – it's the same bloke they already have.

The Argentine impressed when filling in for Trippier at right-wing-back against Manchester City, however, and has also been used there for Argentina in the Copa America. Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni was pleased with the 21-year-old's showings, and Mauricio Pochettino could have the answer to his right-back void right under his nose.

It will be a long-term project that requires patience – but that's exactly the kind of thing that Spurs' boss gets up for in the morning.

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