Still no new contract for Toby Alderweireld as the defender and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly £30,000 apart on what they think is fair.
Spurs have offered Alderweireld improved terms of £110,000-a-week – the same as Harry Kane – to put pen to paper on a new deal.
Yet the defender is holding out for £140,000-a-week and with a standoff taking place between player and club, Manchester United are considering swooping in for the Belgium international.
Strong or stubborn
Tottenham have a well-documented strict wage structure in place and meeting Alderweireld’s demands would see them have to break that; and presumably raise the wages of several others in response.
Yet the North Londoners remain well behind other teams in the top six in terms of how much they pay and there is a school of thought that while they have made incredible progress in the past few years, they risk falling behind their rivals if they don’t remove their cap.
Is it worth them losing Alderweireld, who is generally considered among the best in his position in the Premier League, for an extra £30,000-a-week or are they showing they won’t be pushed around by any player regardless of how good they are?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
