Tottenham Hotspur have been informed by Toby Alderweireld’s advisor that the club must either offer him an improved contract or allow him to leave next season.
The Belgian international revealed in July that he had not yet been offered a new deal by Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy and that he was still waiting to negotiate a renewal despite having just a year left on his current contract.
Tottenham do have the option to trigger a one-year extension to keep the 28 year old at the club until 2019, however doing so will also activate a £25 million release clause.
If triggered, the stalwart defender may end up leaving the club at just half of the price that right-back Kyle Walker left for Manchester City, so Spurs are likely to want to renegotiate those terms.
Toby’s advisor Stijn Francis has been quoted by The Sun as saying that the defender deserves to be paid what he’s asking for, and that many European clubs would be interested in signing him.
“When you look at Toby’s statistics, they are impressive,” Francis told The Sun. “Either he deserves an appropriate contract, or else he should be given a transfer.”
“Seven or eight big European clubs are interested in signing him. There are not many central defenders around who can play like he can.”
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“But these clubs will have to negotiate with Tottenham’s chairman, Daniel Levy.”
In mid-August, The Daily Mail were reporting on a contract standstill between Alderweireld and the club, as the reliable Belgian was seeking salary parity with the club’s top earners, while Spurs were unwilling to match those demands.
If given what he wants, the centre-back’s wages will have doubled as Toby is rumoured to be earning £50,000 per week, while Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris are earning roughly £110,000.
While currently with the Belgium team, Toby himself also commented, claiming that he’s leaving his future in the hands of others.
“I leave everything to my father,” He added. “We will see what happens in the coming months. But of course a great deal has happened recently.”
“I am going to progress still further. I can really see myself getting a whole lot better.”
“By adapting my game, I have improved every season.”
What would you do in Levy’s position? Give him his pay rise, or let him go?
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