Reports suggest Spurs are about to negotiate a new deal for their star centre-back – but is it enough to keep him at The Lane?
Tottenham Hotspur fans know all too well the pain of a departing star player. The loss of Luka Modric and then Gareth Bale to Real Madrid set Spurs’ development from Europa League regulars to Premier League challengers tumbling back in the opposite direction and now, after finishing third last season under Mauricio Pochettino, they are desperate to avoid a repeat.
So much so that the ink is still drying on new, long-term deals for Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen, Christian Eriksen and co, with Hugo Lloris next on the list. However, while Toby Alderweireld remains absent from the aforementioned throng of stars, Spurs have reason to worry.
Reports arose yesterday that the Belgian’s contract contained a very tempting £25 million release clause (Telegraph) and, although Spurs were quick to deny the rumours, it has prompted testing questions about the centre-half’s future.
The Telegraph reports that Alderweireld is currently earning £50,000-per-week at White Hart Lane, with any renewed deal set to push him into the £70,000 bracket – some way off the ceiling-smashing contracted handed to Harry ‘he’s one of our own’ Kane recently, the most expensive in the club’s history.
However, 27-year-old Alderweireld, the finest defender in the Premier League last season, will know deep down that he can double his money quite comfortable elsewhere, especially due to the lack of top class centre-backs on the market. But Alderweireld is exactly that. A top class centre-half that Spurs cannot afford to lose.
In the two-and-a-bit months he’s been out of action, all the progress made last year has been lost – Tottenham have plummeted out of the Champions League while their title bid has stalled. Spurs won six of their 10 fixtures domestically and in Europe at the start of the season with the former Southampton defender at the back.
However, in the 10 games since his injury-enforced absence, Spurs have picked up a win on just two occasions. For the record, that was a 5-0 whitewash against a hopeless Swansea and a nervy 3-2 triumph over West Ham beset by individual defensive errors.
Tottenham can’t welcome him back quickly enough. But they will have to act decisively to keep him in North London long term. Because, in short, they just can’t do without him right now.
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