Sunderland rekindle interest in Tottenham’s DeAndre Yedlin

The DeAndre Yedlin transfer rumors don’t look like they’re going away anytime soon. Despite not having played a minute of preseason football for Tottenham this year, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle is claiming that Sunderland is reopening negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur for the possible transfer of Yedlin back to the Stadium of Light.

Yedlin spent the year on loan at Sunderland last season, and after a rocky start ingratiated himself to manager Sam Allardyce and by the end of the season had become a regular starter at right back. Yedlin would be the first to say that he improved his defending after a season Wearside, and he’s parlayed the experience of a relegation scrap into a pretty decent stint with the USA, who made it to the semifinals of the Copa America.

The Chronicle claims that Allardyce wants another right back to compete with Billy Jones, but that Spurs are likely to demand between £5-6m for Yedlin, which may force Sunderland to look elsewhere. However, it’s not impossible that Sunderland may return to make a play for Yedlin towards the end of the window.

Yedlin’s future is very much in doubt at Spurs. Though he’s obviously gotten better after a year’s experience with Premier League football, he’s still mired behind England international Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier. It’s possible that with a good preseason – he’s currently on vacation after the Copa America – Yedlin might get a chance to challenge Trippier for the primary backup position. If not, then either another loan or a sale to Sunderland or another club is likely.

From what I’ve seen of Yedlin this season, he’s improving as a player defensively, and his speed make him into more or less Diet Kyle Walker. Taking into account what was a pretty meh season from Trippier, I’d like to see Yedlin be given the chance to claim a first team jersey at Spurs. Barring that, another loan isn’t the worst thing. Walker himself had a few scary years while he adjusted to the pace and demands of the Premier League. I wonder if Kyle Walker might just be DeAndre Yedlin’s ceiling, even if he’s got a while yet to go to reach it.