Another day another Spurs player to Real Madrid story emerges this time The Mirror saying los blancos are ready to lead the chase for defender Toby Alderweireld.
The Spanish giants are said to be keen on the Belgium international centre-half, and are aware of his contract stand-off — and the fact he was not in the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League draw away to Juventus.
Mauricio Pochettino insisted Alderweireld was left behind in London to work on his fitness after recently making a comeback from nearly three months out with a hamstring injury, however the article says Alderweireld had been keen to play — having insisted he was also fit for the North London derby win over Arsenal on Saturday, when he again wasn’t in the matchday party.
It adds that he is now expected to play away to League One side Rochdale in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday and it goes on to say that his complex contract has alerted several clubs — and unless Tottenham can get him to agree to new terms, they will have to consider selling him this summer.
That has put Madrid on alert, with Manchester City also long-term admirers and both Chelsea and Manchester United watching developments closely.
It adds that he has been in discussions with Spurs but is likely to want not just to be put on a par with the club’s top earners but to get in excess of £150,000-a-week.
and that there has been no breakthrough in those talks and his current deal contains a one-year extension option, which is scheduled to activate in summer 2019 and would see him contracted to 2020.
That contract also includes a £25million release clause that could also be activated at the end of next season — as long as any transfer is completed at least 14 days before the closure of the window meaning we may have to sell this summer to make sure they get a big fee rather than risk losing him for a bargain price 12 months later.
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