Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering re-signing Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters in the summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old failed to make a consistent impact in the first team during a seven-year spell with the Lilywhites, having joined their academy as a teenager in 2013.
Walker-Peters was loaned to Southampton for the second half of the 2019-20 season, and the Saints struck a permanent deal for the right-back for £11.7m that same summer.
The two-cap England international immediately became a regular fixture in the Saints' starting lineup under Ralph Hasenhuttl, and he remains one of the first names on the teamsheet under Ruben Selles.
However, with Southampton staring down the barrel of relegation from the Premier League, a mass exodus of players could occur if the St Mary's side cannot pull off a miraculous escape.
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Selles's side remain rock bottom of the Premier League table, only two points adrift of safety, but most of their relegation rivals have at least one or two games in hand.
According to Football Insider, Tottenham have a firm interest in bringing the defender back to the capital, and he will leave Southampton if they end up being demoted to the Championship.
However, Spurs could face competition from Manchester United to re-sign Walker-Peters, whose contract at St Mary's runs until the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Walker-Peters has come up with three goals and seven assists in 110 outings for Southampton since his initial loan move three years ago, including a solitary strike from 28 games this term.
The two-cap England international previously made 24 appearances for Tottenham, scoring once and providing six assists, and he played the full 90 in a chaotic 3-3 draw with his former club before the international break.
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Throwing away a two-goal lead to draw at St Mary's, Tottenham's players were viciously targeted by manager Antonio Conte after the game, being labelled "selfish" by the infuriated Italian.
Conte's outburst has led to the suggestion that he will be sacked during the international break, and Mauricio Pochettino has been tipped to make a sensational return to Hotspur Way for the 2023-24 season.
Walker-Peters and Pochettino shared a positive relationship during their time together at Tottenham, and the prospect of reuniting with the Argentine could tempt the defender into a return if the Saints go down.
Tottenham reinforced their right-back ranks in the summer with the signing of Pedro Porro, who has now demoted Emerson Royal down to the bench despite the Brazilian's recent purple patch.
Djed Spence is also attempting to make a name for himself out on loan at Rennes, and the English youngster would expect to be given a chance to impress at Spurs for the 2023-24 campaign.
Ben Knapton
