Tottenham Hotspur have been given a setback in the race to sign Norwich City defender Max Aarons – but should the north London club continue their interest?
The Daily Mail write that the Norfolk club will knock back any approaches for Aarons this summer, with Manchester United and Crystal Palace also tracking his development.
The 19-year-old right-back starred for the Canaries as they gained promotion to the Premier League last term, earning the EFL’s Young Player of the Season award.
He is regarded as an attack-minded full-back who is more than comfortable carrying the ball forward and taking on his opposition counterpart, as well as possessing the energy to track back should his team lose the ball.
The defensive side of his game should not be underestimated, with Aarons showing awareness in covering for his centre-backs and making vital interceptions last season.
He has also played at left-back on occasion, and that versatility will appeal to Spurs boss Mauricio Pichettino given the uncertainty over Danny Rose’s future.
Clearly Aarons has potential in abundance, but the step up from the Championship to the Premier League is a significant one and it will be interesting to see how he copes in 2019/20.
You only have to look at the performances of Ryan Sessegnon, who was unable to stop Fulham from heading straight back down to England’s second tier, to realise that players can struggle with the step up.
Given the fact that Norwich are likely to command a significant fee for his services, Spurs should wait to see how he fares in the first few months of the season before making a move in January or next summer.
