Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Liverpool over a potential move for Andy Robertson, a development that could bring one of the Premier League’s most decorated modern full-backs to north London and signal the end of an era at Anfield.

The Scotland captain is into the final months of his contract and, with no agreement yet in place over an extension, Liverpool have been willing to listen to approaches. Initial conversations between the clubs are understood to be exploratory but serious, with all parties keen for clarity on Robertson’s future in the coming days.

For Liverpool, the situation is as much about respect as it is about squad planning. Robertson has been a cornerstone of the club’s resurgence under Jürgen Klopp and now Arne Slot, arriving from Hull City in 2017 and helping to drive Liverpool to the Premier League title, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Club World Cup among a haul of nine major trophies.

His relentless energy, overlapping runs and fierce competitiveness turned him into one half of a full-back pairing that redefined the position in English football. Alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold on the opposite flank, Robertson became a symbol of Liverpool’s intensity and ambition, a player whose work rate and personality resonated deeply with supporters.

Yet this season has felt different. The arrival of Milos Kerkez, the highly rated Hungarian left-back, has shifted the dynamic. Robertson has started only a handful of league games, with Kerkez increasingly trusted in the role. At 31, and with a World Cup to captain Scotland through in the summer, Robertson finds himself weighing up whether to fight for his place at Anfield or seek a new challenge while still at the peak of his experience.

Tottenham’s interest is rooted in both necessity and opportunity. Ange Postecoglou’s side have been hit by a serious ankle injury to Ben Davies, who requires surgery and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. While Spurs moved in January to sign 19-year-old left-back Souza from Santos, the Brazilian is viewed as a development prospect rather than an immediate first-team solution.

Postecoglou’s system demands full-backs who can contribute aggressively in possession and cover large spaces in transition. Robertson’s profile fits that template almost perfectly: a proven Premier League performer, a leader in the dressing room and a player accustomed to the pressure of title races and Champions League campaigns.

Spurs also have a structural incentive to move. They need to strengthen their homegrown quota and add experienced voices to a squad that has been reshaped around younger talent. Bringing in a player who has lifted the biggest trophies in club football would add a layer of know-how that Tottenham have often been accused of lacking at decisive moments in seasons.

There is also a knock-on effect within the squad. The addition of another senior left-back would allow Djed Spence to operate more regularly on his preferred right side, offering Postecoglou greater balance and depth across the back line. With Destiny Udogie already established as a key figure on the left, Spurs would suddenly have a blend of youth and experience in that area of the pitch.

Not everyone is convinced, however, that the move makes sense from Robertson’s perspective. Pundits have questioned whether swapping a role as second choice at Liverpool for a potentially similar situation at Spurs would be attractive to a player of his stature. With Udogie thriving and Spence capable of covering, Robertson would need assurances about his place in the hierarchy before committing to such a switch.

Robertson himself has been open about the emotional and practical weight of the decision he faces. Speaking recently after an FA Cup tie, he reflected on his time at Liverpool and the uncertainty ahead.

He pointed out that he has given everything to the club over more than eight years and acknowledged that Liverpool have consistently rewarded his performances with new contracts. Now, with only months remaining on his current deal, he framed the next step as a family decision as much as a professional one, stressing the need to sit down with those closest to him and assess whether to stay, move on, or explore options abroad.

That last possibility is not theoretical. Atletico Madrid showed strong interest in Robertson last summer, only for a move to stall before any agreement could be reached. The Spanish club’s admiration underlines the level at which he is still regarded across Europe and suggests that Tottenham may not have a free run at his signature if he does decide to leave Anfield.

From Liverpool’s standpoint, the emergence of Kerkez has softened the potential blow of losing such a key figure. Arne Slot has been vocal in his praise of the 20-year-old, highlighting the physical and tactical development that has taken place since his arrival. Kerkez, Slot has argued, is emblematic of a broader recruitment strategy focused on players whose best years lie ahead, capable of improving not just over the course of this season but over several campaigns.

That long-term vision inevitably raises difficult questions about established stars. Liverpool have already begun to transition away from the core that delivered their greatest successes under Klopp. Allowing Robertson to leave on a free transfer in the summer, or for a modest fee now, would be a painful but perhaps logical extension of that process.

For Tottenham, the calculation is different. They are in the midst of a rebuild of their own, but one that must be underpinned by immediate competitiveness. Progression to the Champions League knockout stages has raised expectations and increased the need for depth and experience in key positions. A player of Robertson’s pedigree, available at a reduced cost due to his contract situation, represents the kind of opportunistic signing that can accelerate a project.

The coming days will be decisive. Liverpool must balance sentiment with strategy, weighing the value of keeping a club icon for a few more months against the benefits of clarity and renewal. Spurs, meanwhile, need to convince Robertson that north London offers not just minutes on the pitch but a genuine platform to compete for major honours again.

For Robertson, this is more than a routine contract call. It is a choice between extending a legacy at a club where he has already written his name into history, or embracing a new challenge at a stage of his career when such opportunities will not come around often. Whatever he decides, his next move will reshape not only his own future, but the left flank of two of England’s biggest clubs.