Ćorluka Reportedly Leaving Tottenham for Leverkusen Loan

Departure day continues for Tottenham Hotspur on January Deadline Day Eve. The latest report has Spurs right back Vedran Ćorluka departing White Hart Lane for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. Almost all reports has listed this as a a loan through the rest of the season.

Ćorluka, 25, had been a regular starter for Tottenham since arriving from Manchester City in 2008. But this season a combination of injury troubles and the rise of young fullback Kyle Walker has seen the Croatian International to make only seven total appearances through all competitions.

For Ćorluka, a loan would provide a chance for the right back to get some regular minutes at a high level before this summer's European Championships, where Ćorluka will be counted on to help lead the Croatian defense. The Bayer Leverkusen side he is arriving to is a team in tumult, sitting in fifth place whilst club legend Michael Ballack is forced out. Leverkusen are sorely in need of a right back in front of the upcoming Champions League tie with Barcelona. Normal club right back Daniel Schwaab has been forced to center back, and neither Danny da Costa or Gonzalo Castro have locked down the position.

For Tottenham, the loan is more curious. With cup and top-4 ambitions, the team is now perilously thin at right back. Only Kyle Walker and starting centerback Younes Kaboul have experience at the position. However, Daniel Levy may view it more valuable to put Ćorluka in the shop window with this loan in front of the European Championships, positioning Ćorluka for a big money move in the summer. And with Kyle Naughton returning from a very promising Norwich City loan after the season, Tottenham should have a bevy of young, talented right backs entering the 2012-13 season.