Tottenham Hotspur face losing two key players this summer.
Paying wages of around £200,000 per week is the norm for top Champions League clubs. In world of prolific spending in modern football, Tottenham Hotspur dare to be different.
This approach has won them admirers from a neutral perspective, but their spendthrift approach is wearing thin with some supporters.
Chairman Daniel Levy has stuck to his principles not to pay players high salaries, and it is a policy which could now see two of his top stars leave.
Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen both hold the power and could choose to walk away.
Eriksen enters the final year of his deal this summer. The Mirror report Real Madrid want to sign him. Spurs have to choose between selling him, or letting him walk in 2020 on a free.
The Times report Tottenham view there to be little chance of an extension as it stands.
Toby Alderweireld has even more power in his hands. He has a clause in his contract which allows clubs to buy him for £25 million this summer, The Guardian report.
This is the unfortunate pay off for Tottenham’s reluctance to pay big wages, and it is happening at the worst possible time.
Spurs are moving into their new stadium soon, and supporters who have forked out for expensive tickets wanted to see top stars.
Departures are always a risk with Spurs, but it leaves Levy and co scrambling to sign replacements for Spurs to stand still, rather than trying to kick on.
If they had spent sooner, then Alderweireld and Eriksen might have been willing to stay put.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
