Southampton officially confirmed the signing of Kyle Walker-Peters on loan from Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week, with the young defender set to stay on the south coast until the end of the season.
The 22-year-old’s arrival will hand Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad a boost ahead of the final months of the ongoing 2019/20 campaign.
Walker-Peters has made 24 appearances for Spurs’ senior team, even netting one goal and adding five assists to his tally. And not only that, the youngster, who is a product of his parent club’s academy, has also already represented England at every youth level ranging from U18s to U21s.
And the Saints seem to be getting quite a prospect for their team if Darren Bent’s quotes from 2019 are anything to go by, as the former Premier League attacker praised the young full-back and tipped him for a successful future.
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Here’s what he said about him back then, as quoted by Football Insider:
“I think he’s done enough to warrant the opportunity to become their regular right-back. Whenever I’ve seen him, he’s always played well. If he’s not playing regularly, we’re never, ever going to see the best of Walker-Peters.
“I think he can shine. In the times I’ve seen him play, I’ve liked his athleticism, I think he’s very good on the ball, he’s quick, he’s not scared of a tackle. He definitely warrants a chance to become their first-choice right-back.”
It seems that, if Bent’s theory is correct, Walker-Peters needs to be playing on a regular basis if Hasenhuttl wants to get the best out of his new recruit. The now 22-year-old is athletic, quick and good on the ball and the type of player who loves to get stuck in; qualities synonymous with any effective modern full-back.
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By the looks of it, the Saints were wise to bring him to St Mary’s in January.