Toby Alderweireld doubts over Tottenham future as contract negotiations ‘reach deadlock’
Belgium star is yet to agree new deal with Spurs and now club could be faced with prospect of having to sell in the summer or risk losing him on the cheap next year
Sponsored by
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD'S future at Tottenham is in doubt amid claims talks over a new contract with the club have reached a deadlock.
Spurs star Alderweireld has just 18 months left on his existing deal with the London club and is demanding a big pay rise before committing his long-term future.
And the say the talks have broken down to such a point that Tottenham may now have to consider selling the centre-back this summer or risk losing him on the cheap next year.
Alderweireld, 29, is understood to be asking for a deal worth around £150,000-a-week, which he feels is the going rate for a proven player of his standing.
But Spurs have adopted a position where they do not want to be held to ransom by any player as they protect their wage structure at the club.
It is reported that their final offer will not go above £110,000, and Alderweireld is aware he would be able to find other clubs willing to pay him more if he moved.
Though he has 18 months left on the contract, Spurs are aware they have a clause where they can activate a further 12-month option to keep him to 2020.
But the situation is complicated further by the fact there is another agreement in place which would allow Alderweireld to leave next summer for £25.4million if that option was taken up.
SHOWN THE DOOR Jose Mourinho tells Paul Pogba 'I'm the boss' in furious training ground row
That would leave the club vulnerable to losing a player well below his real market value - which at current prices would be at least £50m.
And with some of Europe's biggest clubs all showing an interest in the Belgian, that leaves Alderweireld in a strong bargaining position.
Most read in football
Tottenham's dilemma is that although they would want to keep him in Mauricio Pochettino's squad, they are acutely aware of their bottom line.
So the prospect of losing him for around £25m less than his real value is one that the club are uncomfortable with.
With contract talks also going on with Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min, the club are restricted in the size of the deals they are able to offer.
And that has left the club having to consider whether it makes better sense to cash in on Alderweireld this summer.
Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid are all understood to be monitoring the situation closely, and would be in a position to make a big should he become available.