“I really hope it won’t happen” – Manager admits Spurs-linked full-back could be on his way out

Legia Warsaw manager Aleksandar Vukovic has admitted that while he would like to keep hold of rumoured Tottenham target Michal Karbownik he revealed that the defender could be on his way out if the club receive a big offer.

The role of a full-back has evolved considerably over the last decade or so, with many teams now relying on them to provide the majority of their width going forward.

With teams like Liverpool, it can even be argued that their full-backs are their most creative players going forward, due to the space and time they get on the ball, in comparison to their midfielders.

It is unsurprising that top quality full-backs have become extremely sought after, and one player who many clubs around Europe are said to be looking is Karbownik, who is showing all the signs of developing into a top player.

Comfortable on both the right side and the left side of defence, the 19-year-old’s impressive displays for Legia are said to have captured the interests of Tottenham, as well as the likes of FC Moscow, AC Milan, and Real Betis (The Mirror – 26/04/2020, p68).

Despite the teenager signing a four-year deal at the end of May, Sportowe Fakty reported earlier this month that Legia could still cash in on the defender with Southampton said to be pushing Spurs for his signature.

Vukovic has now admitted that Legia are in no position to turn down a big fee for Karbownik this summer.

When asked about if the defender will leave, he told Polish outlet, Super Express: “I really hope it won’t happen. There is a lot of talk about Karbownik.

“If there is something very big, an offer you can’t refuse, you will have to accept it. Because that’s the climate we have.

“I hope that this squad will not change, that those who were the core of the team and played an important role in it will still be here. This is what we care about.

“In my opinion, one more season spent in Legia would be optimal for him. He would confirm what he was showing now and take a step forward.

“He would be more ready to cope overseas. That it would not end up that he would not get out there and would have to wait longer for his chance.

“Recently, Partizan Belgrade sold a 2001 player to Monaco for 10 million euros and has already loaned him.

“There are clubs that can afford to buy a player for unimaginable money for us and wait for him for a long time. We are not able to predict everything.

“Karbo is my kid. As for me, I would probably never sell it. Unfortunately, the reality is different.”

Spurs Web Opinion

We will likely see a lot more academy players and young talents switching clubs this summer than we saw at any time in the past as clubs around Europe are under pressure to sell their assets to deal with the financial impact of the pandemic. As talented as Karbownik looks, there will always be an element of gamble with signings like him, since the jury is out on how he will respond to the demands of a top league.

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