The Tottenham Hotspur defender is a reported target for Roma.
When speaking to reporters, Roma director Gianluca Petrachi backed Franco Baldini to help secure a cut-price deal for Tottenham ace Toby Alderweireld because of his ties to the north London club.
Baldini was Spurs’ technical director from June 2013 to September 2015, and he left the club on good terms.
Alderweireld is a key target for Roma, according to Italian publication Calcio Mercato, but Tottenham are unwilling to accept anything less than his £25 million release clause.
The Belgium international’s deal is set to expire in the summer of 2020, however, so Spurs will surely want to move him on before the end of the transfer window, rather than risk losing him for nothing next year.
And Petrachi told reporters how he would like a deal for the 30-year-old to be concluded quickly, as quoted by Football-Italia.net:
“I realise there is a release clause for Alderweireld, but Baldini has a strong rapport with Spurs directors, he worked there for many years and can support Roma in signing Alderweireld. I want it to be clear that he is of support to Roma and in the specific case of Alderweireld is an idea to help us save a bit of money. We’d be happy if we could sign him tomorrow without paying the release clause.”
Alderweireld has proven to be a superb signing for Tottenham, after joining Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the summer of 2015, so Spurs fans will undoubtedly be sad to see him leave.
If the 30-year-old is sold, it will be vital for Pochettino to bring in a top class centre-back to fill the void that will be left behind by the Belgian.
There is, of course, another potential scenario – one that would see Alderweireld sign a new contract with the north London outfit, and remain with the club for the next few years.
As things stand, however, that seems unlikely to say the least.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
