Serge Aurier in negotiations to terminate his contract

With the signing of Emerson from FC Barcelona completed today, Tottenham Hotspur had a minor problem on their hands: What to do with four fullbacks on the right flank? It was expected that one of Matt Doherty or Serge Aurier would head for the exit, and it seems we have our answer: The Ivorian International appears to be the odd man out:

This isn’t a huge surprise that Aurier is leaving the club. He said at the end of May he had reached the end of his time in London and wanted to head back to France if possible. Spurs spent an entire transfer window trying to find a club who would buy him, but there were no firm takers.

Aurier has had an up and down career at Tottenham Hotspur. He’s given us some brilliant moments while also committing some boneheaded ones, and now that Spurs have younger players in the form of Emerson and academy product Japhet Tanganga in the rotation? Aurier was surplus and everyone knew it.

There’s also the question about Matt Doherty and where he stands in this group. There’s probably a place for him, given that Nuno preferred him when playing a back three at Wolves, but if Emerson comes in and blows the doors off the place and Tanganga plays solidly, Doherty may find minutes hard to come by.

As for Aurier, it seems to be a matter of time before his contract is terminated. He’ll be free to sign with any club once that is completed.