Toby D-Day
Man Utd have just 48 hours to seal Alderweireld transfer move before his £25m Spurs release clause expires
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TOBY ALDERWEIRELD is happy to stay at Tottenham as the time left on his release clause ticks down.
There are just 48 hours remaining for a club to activate the get-out that was inserted in his Spurs contract with a £25million bid.
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But, despite interest from Manchester United and Italian giants Roma, the Belgian defender admitted he fully expects to remain at Tottenham this season.
He said: “My focus is on Spurs and I try to deliver the job I need to do — I’m happy and that’s it.
“Do I think I will still be a Spurs player come the start of the season?
“Yes — that’s my focus. In football everything can go quickly but all I’m doing is focusing on Spurs and being fit for the start of the season.”
The release clause in Alderweireld’s contract can only be activated up to two weeks before the end of the transfer window, which is Thursday.
He was made captain by manager Mauricio Pochettino for the first half of their 3-2 win over Juventus in Singapore on Sunday.
Spurs, ironically, take on Manchester United in Shanghai on Thursday.
But Alderweireld, 30, said: “I think the manager knows I am committed to the club and the team but you never know in football.
“I was captain for the game against Juventus, so that shows the manager has trust in me.
“Yes, the release clause is running out and again anything can happen.
“But my focus is on Spurs and in my head I will be playing for Spurs.”
The release clause is running out and again anything can happen.
Toby Alderweireld
Alderweireld’s outstanding displays last season suggest he has not let the speculation affect his play.
He added: “I work hard and do what needs to be done.
“I do my best like in every club I’ve been at — from day one I do my best.”
Pochettino has put his players through their paces in the heat and humidity of the Far East.
Alderweireld said: “Yes we have worked really hard. It’s very hot, the altitude makes breathing hard.
“It feels there is no air to breathe but against Juventus we showed we are at the level we want to be.”
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Pochettino fielded a number of young players — such as Anthony Georgiou, 22, Japhet Tanganga, 20, and 17-year-old Troy Parrott — in the win over the Italian champions.
Alderweireld said: “A lot of those players showed they have quality.
“The manager gives them confidence by saying ‘Look, if you play well, you can play’.
“It’s a massive boost for them. Even if they maybe go back to their teams, they know if they play well they can be there.”
Alderweireld believes the emergence of Pochettino’s pups will give Spurs extra bite in the coming campaign after they finished fourth last time out.
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He added: “We played against a very good team in Juventus — and we had more youth players than them.
“Not only the result was encouraging but the way we played football.
“You have to keep improving because the Premier League doesn’t stop, they improve as well. But I believe we will be stronger this season.”
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